Pinhole #3 lamp by Studio Jelle

The pieces he creates as Studio Jelle seem to glow even when switched off. And the texture of these Pinhole Lamps recall a motif that was huge in midcentury modern decor: basket-weave, or caning. Up close, however, the 21st-century difference is clear: there’s no braided grass here. It’s a single piece of laser-sintered nylon. The resulting fixtures remain perfectly contemporary and minimal while giving off a warm, diffuse light. The effect is playful and futuristic — with a nod to the pre-digital past.

Pinhole #4 by Studio Jelle

The material he used is a favorite among our home decor and accessories designers for its strength, flexibility, resilience — and slight translucence. What will you make with it?

create your own decor

The post The Illuminating 3D Printed Decor of Jelle de Vries appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Here are just a few of the cool projects that community members like you are launching in 2018:

Artist Claudio Settiis bringing a Viking back to life

Chris McConnell of M-Customs is building a dropped and chopped hot rod truck

Wayne Losey of ModiBot is planning new BriXleev building blocks

Katie Larocca turned a grazing animal into a keepsake box

Julian Arnold of Jewelled Seas Untold is updating the reminder string — as a beautiful ring

Patricia Castillo from CatDragStudio is building a better Frantic Krug Robot

Roxy Rahel of Morphology is finalizing her first bracelet of 2018

Conner Austin is working on an adjustable Universal iPhone Cover

Pop Goes the Monkey designed a pair of Death Team: M2a Troop Tank Doors

Death Team: M2a Troop Tank Doors

Are you still waiting to start that project you’ve been dreaming of? We’re here to help. You can explore our materials to see what’s possible, start printing now if you already have a 3D file, hire a designer to turn your idea into a 3D model, get help in our forums, or learn 3D design in our Tutorials hub and Magazine. And don’t forget to share your progress with the hashtag #Create2018 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post 9 Amazing #Create2018 Projects appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

While the overall 3D printing industry largely focuses on enterprises and industrial uses, Shapeways exists to take the power of that innovation and put it in the hands of people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to it. Unlike the early consumer 3D printing industry that focused on desktop printers, we created a service business model that enables creators to access the best and most innovative technologies without constantly buying new machines themselves.

EOS has been a key partner, providing the most innovative technology for selective laser sintering (SLS), or powder bed infusion. The company is the leading machine manufacturer and materials supplier for SLS industrial 3D printing, which is known for having the best repeatable quality result — key to serving our million-strong community of creators. EOS also gives Shapeways a competitive advantage beyond quality and consistency: access to material parameters unavailable from other technologies — in any color, size, or repeatable dimensional accuracy. The powder bed acts as a natural support structure for parts, enabling geometries that are difficult to print with stereolithography and fused filament fabrication. And quite simply, it is one of the most forgiving materials processes as the world of 3D creators rapidly expands – with versatility for tech accessories, jewelry, eyewear, scaled models, fixture, mechanical parts, and more.

Our factories house 19 industrial-sized EOS 3D systems that print thousands of products at once, running 24/7. With roughly 200,000 unique designs uploaded each month, we’re pioneering high-mix, high volume production.

As Adam Penna, EOS Sales and Marketing Lead put it, “We have supported Shapeways since its early days and we’re listening closely to them as a customer and to their community for improvement of processes involved in the digital value chain related to industrialized production as well as innovation on what’s next.” At 5 million products printed, we and EOS are celebrating the milestone — and then getting back to work building the accessible 3D printing service of the future.

The post Our Community Makes History: Congrats on 5 Million Strong & Flexible Prints! appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
With every new material and technology we offer, we work closely with our community and technology partners to improve and develop it. Our testing and evaluation of this new technology started back in 2016 when Shapeways partnered with HP and received the very first prototype printer in the field. Our 3D printing engineers spent months user-testing this machine and providing expert feedback to the HP team to help drive development of this revolutionary technology.

The HP Jet Fusion Printer in action

Once we received the first production machines, we invited community members to our Eindhoven factory to get feedback on the material in their designs and to get an in-depth look at our process.

A designer from our community tests out HP Nylon Plastic

In April, we opened Early Access to HP’s Multi-Jet Fusion technology. Since then, together, we have been rigorously testing the capabilities with thousands of different applications and geometries, thanks to our diverse community’s endlessly varied, one-of-a-kind products. This has enabled us to have an extraordinary and unique understanding of the material and process.

DETAILS
You have helped us prove that prints developed with HP have excellent mechanical properties, a smooth surface, and a more finished look. Both the quality and strength of HP have not yet been matched by other materials, showing the ingenuity of this new technology. Over the course of developing the material, your insights have also helped us drop our lead time to 6 days.

Because of the increased strength, durability, and smoothness, this new material will be introduced at a higher price than our Strong & Flexible family of plastics.

Along with our community, we hope that in the future the HP printers will help us to lower costs for our users. It is HP’s mission to create the fastest and least expensive nylon printer on the market, and we are grateful to continue working with them to help make this happen.

As roll out HP to all of our makers, we are renaming the material from HP Strong & Flexible to HP Nylon Plastic to distinguish it from our Strong & Flexible family. We have also made updates to the design guidelines, pricing, and lead time.

Testing bracelets printed in HP Nylon Plastic

USES
Due to its superior mechanical properties, we recommend HP Nylon Plastic for functional products that require high strength, stiffness, elongation, and isotropic properties, such as RC cars, mechanical, and casing parts. If you’re not sure if HP Nylon Plastic is the right material for your project, see the comparison chart of functional plastics below.

WHAT’S NEXT
In the near future, we plan to make HP Nylon Plastic available for Shop Owners to offer as well. But first, we’ll need your feedback on the material. What has worked for your own models? What are things to watch out for, or unexpected uses for the material? With your help, we’ll soon be able to offer HP Nylon Plastic to all marketplace shoppers.

We’re grateful for your feedback and ingenuity as we continue to develop new technologies together. We can’t wait to see what you make with HP Nylon Plastic! Upload your design here.

The post HP Nylon Plastic Now Open to All Makers! appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

How long have you been working with models? 

Fifty-one years. I started when I was eight, and continued building until I was in my late teens. At that point, I had built over 200 models up to 1/4 scale in size. But then I just kind of quit until about two years ago. I found myself working on a 1/6 scale ’34 Ford Coupe that nobody seemed to have parts for. Through a moment of serendipity, I heard about 3D printing. Since I’ve been working with computers for over 30 years, I figured I’d try my hand at it. What started as me making parts for myself blossomed to a full-blown business when others wanted my designs too, so I started 3D Model Specialties to meet demand.

Tell us about a project you’re particularly proud of.

My biggest, and most exciting project is still the ’34 Ford coupe. I’ve actually been working on it for 20 years, but was trying to scratch build everything, which was not working out well in that large scale. I’m very proud of my collection of engines that has grown immensely in the past two years that I’ve been creating parts for the Shapeways store.

“Through a moment of serendipity, I heard about 3D printing. Since I’ve been working with computers for over 30 years, I figured I’d try my hand at it. What started as me making parts for myself blossomed to a full-blown business when others wanted my designs too…”

How did you learn to make 3D models? What software do you use?

It was quite challenging at first, but I picked it up quickly. I started in OpenSCAD, a free command-line CAD software. I’ve typed hundreds of thousands of lines of code to create parts, but I’ve started to work in Rhinoceros to make better models for my customers. That, and my fingers are sore.

My first parts were for the twin turbo engine for the ’34 Ford. I can now add about 20-30 new parts a week to my store, which can be hard to keep up with!

How does it feel to do what you do? How does it feel, after the hours you put in modeling, tweaking, and getting things just right, to finally hold that finished piece in your hand?

Modeling is a great way to express oneself, by customizing, painting and assembling unique cars, trucks, etc. Creating new, fresh and unique parts is a passion for me. It’s exciting to offer parts to the thousands of modelers out there that are tired of just buying a kit and gluing it together. They want individualism, uniqueness. Something that knocks their project out of the park.

I try to offer parts that have never been offered, as most kits today are the same ones I remember from 30 years ago in new boxes — sometimes not even that! There are very few, if any, updated engines, intakes, chassis, and wheels available, so I try hard to offer as many as I can. And I’d say I’ve succeeded. 3D Model Specialties now has over 1,050 parts in the store across 10 scales.

“It’s exciting to offer parts to the thousands of modelers out there that are tired of just buying a kit and gluing it together. They want individualism, uniqueness.”

What has 3D printing added to your appreciation of model cars?

3D printing is a scale modeling paradigm shift. Nowadays, as long as it fits in your printer, you can make it. I use full-scale car parts catalogs as guides to create new parts. With 3D printing, if it looks cool, I can make it. And there’s a ton of cool parts out there.

“With 3D printing, if it looks cool, I can make it.”

How did you buy or make model cars before you discovered Shapeways?

Like everyone else: kits, aftermarket, scratch building, and resin parts.  In my teens, I ended up basically building everything from scratch, as normal kits weren’t cutting it for me even then. It took 40 years and the advent of 3D printing to get me back into it.

How has Shapeways changed the way you do business?

When I started out, I only offered 1/8 scale and up, which was the limit for my home printers. It’s also more fun for me because I can get into much more detail over smaller scale builds. 

But with Shapeways, I can offer all of my parts down to 1/25  scale and some I can do as tiny as 1/32, which most home printers can’t even touch right now. I love starting from scratch and making super-detailed parts, knowing that thanks to the power of Shapeways, they’re available to everyone.

Give us some of your favorite memories interacting with the Shapeways community.

A lot of my customers have connected with me on social media. We talk almost every day on and off the site. Many of them have become very good friends, and it’s always great when I get a message from a customer telling me how much they loved one of my parts.

On a more personal note, I’ve worked with a lot of clients to produce custom parts for cars that have special significance to them — the car they drove to high school, or in one case, the car this particular customer’s father owned before they died. Making custom parts to get it just right means a lot to them, and I’m proud to help them out.

“I love starting from scratch and making super-detailed parts, knowing that thanks to the power of Shapeways, they’re available to everyone.”

What do you have coming up, and what plans do you have moving forward for your model-making?

For me, it’s just business as usual. I want to continue to offer different model bodies that most other stores don’t have. Another space I want to get into soon is motorcycles and top fuel boats. But of course, I’m always looking for insane engines and chassis parts to design and print.

(We usually don’t post this, but Ron’s answer was too good to not share. We can only imagine he typed this with a very self-satisfied (but well-deserved!) smirk.)

Can you tell us about another modeler with a storefront that should be featured?

I don’t know of any of the current modelers that have a storefront. They’re all coming to me for their parts.

You can find Ron’s store right here, where he offers over 1,000 model parts ranging from 1/6 scale all the way down to 1/32 scale. 

The post Ron Olsen, The Man of 1000 Models (and counting) appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Ron talked with us about a new outlet for 3D printing he’s discovered thanks to his son’s work, and how it has helped them connect to the community they love.

How did you find out about this project? 

Fresh out of college, my son had this idea to create a coloring book based on iconic buildings where we’d spend our summers. It was called Color Greenport. He and I went around Greenport trying to find the best places to include for the book, then he cranked out a finished book in six weeks. After it sold out at the store he left it with, they asked for twice what he left them — and his business was born.

Via colorourtown.com

When we heard about the Suffolk County Historical Society Museum’s exhibition “Riverhead in Living Color,” we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to showcase the work that Jake had done thus far, the book on Riverhead especially. Then we had the idea to 3D print some of these beautiful landmarks Riverhead has to offer, [in Full Color Sandstone], and we got in contact with the SCHS. We were elated to find out that they thought it was a great idea as well, and wanted it to be a featured exhibit! After the SCHS event, the exhibit is going to become a permanent exhibit at the Railroad Museum of Long Island.

How are you and your son working together on this?

Jake is really the powerhouse behind it all. He does the research, legwork, and photography to get a prototype. From there he sends it to the talented artists he works with to get the line drawings. From there, he compiles the book himself, writes the copy, edits it, and publishes it.

I’ve got a lot of contacts in the 3D printing world, so I was able to enlist the help of two very talented local 3D modelers — Vitaliy Burov and Lilly Yanova. Together we created some excellent work.

What does it mean to you to work on this with Jake?

I mean, you really can’t say anything that does justice to that feeling. Working with him to create a business that sells a product people love means more to me than I can really put into words. My pride in him swells every time I think of what he’s accomplished thus far, honestly. I’m glad to have been able to help him along with my skills as well. As far as this exhibit, I don’t think there’s ever been anything done at this scale, with this level of detail, and I’m very excited to be part of it.

How does it feel to have a lasting legacy with this project?

Honestly, it just feels great. I personally hope this exhibit gives kids the inspiration to go into 3D printing — to see the depth and complexity of what’s possible, and how you can create amazing things with that. And if we’re lucky, we can do that for every town Jake wants to make a coloring book of. And judging by what he’s got on the horizon, that’d be quite a few cities to build!

Outside of this project, what do you primarily use 3D printing for?

Well, I’ve been in the creative space for over 40 years. I remember doing computer programming on punch cards! But when I found 3D printing, I pursued a business centered in education. I aimed to provide children and those interested in the field with the tools to start for themselves. It’s really been my passion to try and make this amazing technology accessible to everyone.

How does it feel to do what you do? How does it feel to finally hold that finished piece in your hand?

It doesn’t get much better than that. I mean, I love this. Even when I wasn’t working with Jake, 3D printing gives you a product that you simply can’t get anywhere else. And while it feels great to hold the finished piece, the greatest part comes when you share it with others. It’s why I’m so passionate about this project. So many people are going to see what 3D printing can accomplish that might have never seen it before.

Finally, what does the future hold for you? What do you have coming up, and what plans do you have moving forward for your model-making?

Going forward, I really want to help Jake accomplish his goals. I have total confidence in the product he makes. His work inspires hometown pride, something that deserves to be spread far and wide. I also want to ensure that 3D printing is accessible and inspirational to our audiences.

Coloring books are a great cross-demographic product right now. I hope the combination of those, nostalgia for one’s hometown, and the terrific pieces my son uncovers in his research can get more people passionate about 3D printing. Even if that doesn’t happen, I’m just proud to be at my son’s side as he follows his dreams.

You can find more from Ron and Jake at their website, ColorOurTown.com. If you’re in the Long Island area, check out Jake and Ron’s exhibit at the Suffolk County Historical Society’s Opening Reception this Saturday, October 14th,  from 1-3pm at the Suffolk County Historical Society Museum. Click here for full details. 

Everything in place for the big show!

Unless otherwise stated, all images via Ron Rose.

The post Where Family, Community, and 3D Printing Meet — An Interview With Ron Rose appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Edu’s concept for the Guardian Jacket came about in response to the significant amount of time modern humans spend on their daily commute. Opting to commute on a motorcycle comes with certain advantages: It’s more economical, often faster, and easier to park — with the added bonus of feeling the wind in your hair. However, wise riders know that motorcycles also necessitate safety gear, which tends to be bulky, super sporty, and an uncomfortable fit.

2D Render of the Guardian Jacket

Edu set out to design a safety jacket for the non-professional motorcyclist, and explore the full potential of additive manufacturing by designing and printing every single jacket component, from mesh fabric to closures to hardware. By using the customizable nature of 3D printing to actualize his jacket concept, Edu realized he could offer the wearer a better experience with improved performance, fit, and sustainability.

“The choice of using 3D printing in my design process is also suitable for the production of bespoke goods en masse, sustainably, due to the limited waste generated during manufacturing, and the potential to reduce any carbon footprint related to logistics.”

Aesthetically, the Guardian Jacket is inspired by a combination of bomber jackets and medieval armor:

“It lives between different ages, and our new technology allowed me to achieve this duality by clashing the futuristic with the archaic.”

Functionally, Edu designed the Guardian Jacket to protect the upper body against impact, focusing on spinal cord injury protection.

“The areas with impact reduction will consist of structured parts capable of absorbing applied forces, while keeping the architecture as slim as possible, optimizing the relation between both these qualities.”

“The spinal cord injury protection would consist of a dynamic structure that works as an exoskeleton along the spine on a vertical axis… The shapes that resemble vertebrae would lock into each other, allowing natural movement but restraining wide angle variations.”

Even with all of the Guardian Jacket’s safety functionalities, which would ordinarily add mass to the garment’s silhouette, Edu was able to reach his goal of creating breathable motorcycle gear through the use of 3D printed chainmail — an achievement he chalks up to the power of 3D printing:

“The whole of my project could not have been brought to life without 3D printing – my choice of chainmail-like fabric went almost completely obsolete due to its labor-intensive nature. Now thanks to 3D printing, it’s trending again – machines don’t mind the work. In fact, they go the extra mile, aiding us humans to bring to life our wildest imaginations!”

Equally helpful, Edu was able to print perfectly pre-assembled mechanical parts in our lightweight yet durable Metallic Plastic, sparing himself the time and labor of assembly.

A mechanical spring component from the Guardian Jacket, 3D printed in our interlocking Metallic Plastic

We can hardly wait to see the final construction of Edu’s made-to-measure safety jacket, and we are beyond impressed with the en vogue execution of his noble mission.

Do you have an innovative idea that could transform your industry? Let us help bring your ideas to life with 3D printing manufacturing.

The post Shapeways Education Grant Stories: Edu Fiorin’s Bespoke Guardian Jacket appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Modesta has found a regular creative partner in Dutch designer Anouk Wipprecht, who plays at the intersection of fashion and technology and shows her work at the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design, the MAK Museum in Vienna, and a solo show called “Robotic Couture” at Tetem, an exhibition hall in Enschede, the Netherlands. (We wrote about “Robotic Couture” last month.)

This video from last year shows how Wipprecht created a custom prosthetic for Modesta:

Now Modesta, Wipprecht, and a pair of architects from Monad Studio in Miami have created Sonifica, a set of prosthetics that are not only beautiful, but also meaningful and provocative extensions of a musical performance. In addition to a prosthetic leg, the team designed a bodice with two protruding tusks that can be used to modulate sounds, almost like a pair of theremins. “The tusks create a different silhouette,” Modesta said in a recent interview. “It gives you a more animalistic skeleton, but also has almost a sexual addition to the body.”

Modesta presented Sonifica at Art Basel Miami. The collaboration was sponsored by Autodesk, which produced this video about the process. “You’ve got science and art mixing in such and intense way, and you don’t know where it’s going to go,” Modesta says in the video.

The post A Leg and Two Tusks: Viktoria Modesta, Prosthetics, and Performance Art appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

After some initial research to determine which type of RC car I wanted to hit the (off)road with, my heart was set on the Axial SCX10. But, as it turned out, they were really, really hard to find (factory drama, as you all know). I swung by a number of hobby shops, and folks kept recommending I pick up the Traxxas TRX4 Land Rover Defender. Eventually, after a lot of phone calls, I found  an RC shop in New Jersey (shout out to cool folks at Shadow Hobbies), where I had the chance to choose between an Axial SCX kit or the Traxxas Defender RTR.

Between being intimidated by the kit-building and having been consistently hearing that the Traxxas’ performance was incredible right out of the box, I went with the Defender. It’s an expensive car, but it’s also a reliable model that I can confidently run and take to crawler events (I’m tackling Conquer the Giant in August).

Of course, I’m still curious about how the Axial SCX10 stacks up against the Traxxas, so I checked out a few comparison videos on YouTube (the one below is especially well done), and it seems like the Traxxas TRX4 is going to give the Axial SCX crawlers a run for their money. If you’ve tried out the SCX10, definitely let us know in the comments. I’d really want see them go head to head (bumper to bumper?) in real life.  

I’m psyched to see how my Defender holds up to my driving and mods. Because image is key, I’ve bought a clear Axial SCX10 body to paint and will be ordering some 3D printed RC car accessories from our marketplace. I want my Traxxas to be memorable down to even the smallest detail. The first ideas? Pink beadlock rims and a custom license plate that says “CAR4ANTS.” I know it’s an extra letter but I’m going with it anyway.

As an aside, since there seem to be several styles of rock crawling, I’m excited to take this tiny car outta the big city. Our community manager Andrew wants to take it out and slowly tackle some serious terrain. I want to jump it off stuff and drive it through some mud. Keep an eye out for more Facebook Live videos and our YouTube series. We’re going to get a little (actually, a lot of, if I have my way) mud on these tires!

The post RC Crawler Showdown: Traxxas TRX4 vs. Axial SCX10 appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Thanks to the joys of 3D printing, playing Catan has never looked more appealing. The Shapeways community also happens to be full of massive fans of trading wheat for sheep, creating dozens of custom-made pieces to enhance their own versions of Catan.

Chez Reno’s Beautiful Game Tiles

At the beginning of each game, players create the island of Catan anew, tile by tile. Normally, the tiles would be flat hexagons. But thanks to the Chez Reno Shapeways shop, you can have your own beautiful, 3D-rendered island tiles created in Shapeways Full Color Sandstone. Pictured above is the volcano, a cool take on the mountain design. The Chez Reno pasture even has sheep in it! It’s a wonderful way to add an eye-catching, premium feel to your tabletop experience — but you’ll have to get creative when “shuffling” them.

Icy Cactus Design’s Custom Card Holders

Have you ever found yourself with a mess of cards on the table only two or three turns into your latest game? So has Shapeways creator Jonathan Leskowski, owner of the Icy Cactus Design Shapeways shop. He’s created two different styles of Catan cardholders to keep all of the unclaimed resources in one place. Pictured above are his intricate card holder with icons for each of the game’s resources. A simpler, less expensive holder is available in his minimalist design.

This Awesome Replacement for the Robber

Anyone who’s played Catan knows the torment of having the Robber unleashed upon your fair hamlets. He destroys the resources of a particular hex tile and makes vital resource acquisition impossible for players who benefit from the tile he lands on.

So what better representation than a massive T-Rex? Smashing the trees, eating the sheep, eating those trying to get to the ore… it all works! Creator Jim Rodda gives us this hilarious take on the Robber, and a great story to go along with it in his product description.

Honestly folks, I’m just scratching the surface here. The creativity and style of the Shapeways community makes a rather unassuming game look magnitudes better with just a little ingenuity.

Do you have a tabletop game modification you’d like to share with us? Maybe even a whole new game you made yourself that’s entirely 3D printable? We’d love to get our eyes on it, so leave a comment below.

The post Make Your Own Fun: The Settlers of Catan appeared first on Shapeways Blog.