As both a pioneer in additive manufacturing and a transformative leader in mass customization, Shapeways collaborates with an incredibly diverse range of customers who are heavily involved in the design process, as well as choosing materials, technology, colors, textures, finishes, and options for shipping and packaging.

Mass Production vs. Mass Customization

In stark distinction from mass production, the ability to mass customize entails meeting the detailed needs of Shapeways customers as product development intersects with manufacturing of the future. Whether a business may need low-batch production or manufacturing on the mass scale, Shapeways delivers with choices for over ten different technologies and 90 different materials.

For example, industrial customers engaged in production of hundreds or thousands of parts may rely on Shapeways 3D printing services for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) with durable materials like Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] or Nylon 11 [PA11 (SLS)], while for other applications they may look toward Mimaki 3D printers with High Definition Full Color for vibrant models made to suit for applications like medicine or architecture, as well as incredibly popular tabletop gaming miniatures.

The previous ‘way of doing things’ meant that mass production was completely controlled by the manufacturer, offering products with a set limit in terms of choices—and often none at all. From CNC machining to injection molding, traditional manufacturing ruled for decades, with highly customized or tailored products relegated to expensive, handmade items from the artisan realm. Consumers were confined to making choices based on what each business decided to sell in bulk and present to them. If the masses were not interested in particular items, then they had to be discontinued so the bottom line was not substantially affected with identical products rolling off assembly lines in bustling factories.

These days however, competition is fierce in the marketplace, and there has been a notable shift. Consumers are making their demands known for personalized products, realizing that one size does not have to fit all. For many, mass consumption has lost its appeal and minimalism has become the trend—whether in their home wardrobes or at warehouses where companies are tired of paying to keep large stocks of inventory that may just be collecting dust.

3D printing offers the perfect balance for saving on resources, adding new levels in sustainability for manufacturing, while serving a multitude of extremely useful applications that many of us are just learning more about, from futuristic drone technology to bespoke face masks. As consumers are busy making their exact preferences known, businesses are learning more about their target audiences and exactly where they are willing to invest their money.

Increased Customer Satisfaction with 3D Printing

With the ability to innovate at will and upload as many as 20 3D models at any time to Shapeways for 3D printing, the possibilities are truly infinite. Along with that comes the opportunity to collaborate in mass customization whether in producing devices for popular consumer goods or medical models that offer surgeons the ability to vastly improve or even save lives. In taking advantage of on-demand 3D printing, businesses can enjoy a streamlined system for customized products and orders that are sent directly to Shapeways for expedient 3D printing as needed.

Not only that, with on-demand production, 3D printed orders can be shipped out directly from Shapeways in customized packaging kept on site for fulfillment.

Every project is different at Shapeways, and every 3D print is unique. As many or as few customizations can be chosen on any scale, leading to low-volume or even mass production runs, quickly and efficiently. The LuminoGO is a great example. The Austrian-headquartered company Lumino was motivated to update the typical mask design, making it less disposable, as well as more comfortable and sustainable as a product overall. Available in 17 different configurations, Shapeways 3D prints the LuminoGO in multiple colors, with Lumino reporting amazing quality. The custom mask is ventilating and sterilizing and also includes a microphone, speakers, and even Bluetooth for ease in taking calls.

Producing the ultimate in bespoke masks, LuxMea Studio, headquartered in Toronto, also turned to Shapeways for 3D printing when mass customization of their product—the NuoMask—was required. Fitted to the consumer via artificial intelligence (AI), these incredibly progressive masks not only protect the health of the wearer, but offer sophisticated style in design, and better fit for individuals wearing glasses.

Explore other examples of mass customization case studies from Shapeways here.

About Shapeways

Contact Shapeways now to enjoy the benefits of advanced technology and materials for 3D printing creations for the classroom with accuracy, complex detail, and no limits in terms of mass customization or single part orders. Shapeways has worked with over 1 million customers in 160 countries to make over 21 million parts!Read about case studies, find out more about Shapeways solutions, and get instant quotes here.

The post One Size Does Not Fit All: 3D Printing and Mass Customization appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Not only were incredible new products being made in a layer-by-layer fashion, but soon an entire billion-dollar economy sprang up with 3D printers capable of making industrial, high-performing parts for the most critical of applications like aerospace and medicine. Materials science abruptly became even more vast, and increasingly more interesting as interested parties began to take the deep dive into a novel world of resources that is still continually expanding, from versatile thermoplastics to the strongest metal.

Mainstream 3D Printing Soon Turned to End-Use Parts

Prior to all the hoopla surrounding the world of additive manufacturing as licenses expired, the technology was being used quietly behind the scenes by a select number of big names with big resources—and no eagerness to share their secrets while engaged in research and development. NASA comes to mind instantly, as a major aerospace organization and space leader that began using 3D printers in the 90s for rapid prototyping.

While 3D printing may have at first only been considered a sophisticated iteration tool, the technology quickly evolved into a production method for making complex geometries never before possible with traditional manufacturing like CNC machining or injection molding. Industrial users quickly discovered its potential upon testing the limits of 3D design and all that came afterward. With such overwhelming curiosity and the constant push to create new objects, came the ultimate discovery of a tool that allows for infinite innovation.

Reaping the Rewards is Possible Without Huge Investments

While rapid prototyping may still be part of the process, today it has been superseded by the knowledge that 3D printing has the capacity to make strong, highly customized parts on demand and in high volumes. In working with Shapeways, this also means that businesses of all sizes may realize an entirely new future and trajectory in terms of production of quality parts and products in bulk printing—without having to train staff or invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in industrial equipment.

That FDM 3D printer for the desktop at home or the office may allow for a good start in terms of product development—or even, yes, the replication of a necessary household utensil as foretold, that is not the scenario for rapid production in mass volumes; however, Shapeways bulk 3D printing solutions give customers access to high-volume 3D printing using at the most advanced manufacturing technology and materials like Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) using popular materials like Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] or PA11.  

Mass Customization and Production Too

For Shapeways customers like 67 Designs, the appeal of 3D printing materials, and a dedication to the technology overall outweighs the benefits of traditional manufacturing. For CEO Paul Stener, there has always been a strong adherence to both quality in design and conformation, which he considers to be the main requirements for creating quality products.

“Sometimes you can look at a product and it seems really cool, but during the manufacturing process or due to the materials that have been used, it doesn’t last very long,” said Stener. “That perhaps is a sign that there wasn’t good conformance to the design.”

Stener could have chosen to move on to mass production with injection molding but was sold on 3D printing due to their customized rugged design for an iPad mount, a luxury vehicle accessory mainly used in off-roading vehicles with a tendency to traverse remote and incredibly beautiful areas. Stener also wanted to continue using Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] due to the quality surface finish available.

While highly customized products may be offered in small volumes on demand, once they are highly desired by a customer base, Shapeways can mass produce those same parts too. Powder-based technologies like SLS are conducive to mass production because:

1. There is no need for supports. 

Due to unsintered powder bolstering up and naturally supporting parts during production, dealing with the headaches of planning for support mechanisms are eliminated from the design process—offering much greater freedom regarding design and innovation. 

2. Nested bulk builds are now possible.

Shapeways engineers do not have to plan for supports while packing parts in each build. This makes the process of nesting much more streamlined, and allows for hundreds and even thousands of parts to be 3D printed in one build.

No Tooling Saves Time and Expense

The process of manufacturing expensive tooling is eliminated during 3D printing, along with jigs and fixtures. This also reduces additional setup and costs, streamlining the process further—even for massive production jobs. In other cases, faster, more affordable tooling may also be created for traditional manufacturing, like creating economical, customized 3D printed molds.

Shapeways customers like Voytek Medical weighed out their options carefully when comparing their prospects between 3D printing and injection molding, as an example. Because they did not want to spend thousands of dollars of precious capital, Voytek chose to move from desktop 3D printing and the idea of injection molding to work with Shapeways instead for additive manufacturing of specialized devices to organize medical cords. The decision ultimately brought them great success as they were able to get large batch orders quickly—and with true accuracy and repeatability, parts were received each time without cosmetic or build quality flaws.

Greater Latitude in Making Design Changes to Complex Parts at Any Time

Customers like Tilt Hydrometer took full advantage of the ability to 3D print over a hundred iterations of their hydrometer used to measure the fermentation process while home brewing craft beer. During manufacturing of the end-use parts, they also enjoyed the full range of colors available with Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic], 3D printing through SLS technology.

“I ended up learning a lot about technology,” said CEO Noah Neibaron. “I was passionate about brewing, and I really wanted the business to take off.”

“Shapeways was a large part of that. They were really great with fast service, quality, and the range of colors which actually ended up affecting our whole product line because we now make eight different colored 3D printed tilts—and those are the colors Shapeways sells.”

Expanded freedom in design is one of the greatest advantages in additive manufacturing, and that is equally true for both prototyping and production. In traditional manufacturing if a part was made with a defect or needed a slight change, that could mean long periods of time in between the re-design process and waiting on third parties to fix errors or sudden decisions to make changes. With 3D printing if there is a problem or if the manufacturer suddenly takes a different turn, the 3D model can be swiftly changed without waiting on anyone—and production can resume quickly.

Get Products to Market Faster

Adhering to the old adage that time is money, 3D printing becomes the best option for businesses of all sizes and types—especially when they may be in the process of creating an innovative product and need to get to market as soon as possible in hopes of watching their new brand take off as planned. From the concept and design phase to prototyping and then manufacturing, 3D printing offers new opportunities for businesses interested in creating and customizing new parts with considerably less constraints, and less waiting on third parties in the initial stages. Changes can be made as quickly as a few clicks at the desktop rather than waiting for weeks or even months. In many cases, prototypes and parts can be manufactured exponentially faster, and with less waste of materials and resources.

About Shapeways

Contact Shapeways now to enjoy the benefits of advanced technology and materials for manufacturing creations with accuracy, complex detail, and no minimum or limits in terms of mass customization or single part orders. Shapeways has worked with over 1 million customers in 160 countries to make over 20 million parts! Read about case studies, find out more about Shapeways solutions, and get instant quotes here.

The post The Benefits of Additive Manufacturing for Mass Production appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, Hero Forge came to be as the co-founders Joshua Bennett and Teagan Morrison, while trying to determine the perfect holiday gift for friends, realized there was not a comprehensive service available for 3D printing miniatures. Putting their own impressive technological skills to work, the team created a platform for 3D printed, personalized miniatures. As customer demand began to grow quickly, Hero Forge reached out to Shapeways, finding a like-minded manufacturing partner able to produce all of their customized miniatures quickly, at the highest level of quality, and with continued proactive collaboration focusing on the good of the customer.

Finally, Gamers Have More Options to Bring Characters to Life

Tabletop gamers have an astounding number of options open to them now in comparison to decades past when most adventures consisted of just paper and imagination. Still though, one of the first things players do is choose their characters, often becoming deeply tied to their identities living in an alternate universe. 

Previously, gamers in search of miniatures had the option to go to a store and buy available products closely representing what they were looking for, or they could buy a bunch of them and then dismantle them in a process called ‘kit bashing.’ Once parts had been removed from a variety of miniatures, they could redistribute them to make miniatures look more suitable to their own purposes, whether that required cutting off limbs or weapons. 

“Customizing miniatures like that takes a lot of fine motor skill and modeling expertise,” said Joshua Bennett, co-founder and Chief Operations Officer at Hero Forge. “After decades of sawing apart miniatures only to glue them back together, or manually sculpting additions out of epoxy, we thought there might be a better way.”

“We’ve tried to give as big a toolbox as possible to users. Now, they can also make adjustments in tiny increments in the angle of the pose, the elbow, and in really subtle degrees of facial expressions too—actualizing the promise of 3D printing in a way that a lot of other custom products don’t.”

For tabletop gamers, the adventures, and the characters, are very real, whether they are entering dusty dark corridors or sending group fighters out onto the battlefield to protect their fate. Ultimately, as the stories unfold, players can become very attached. This is even more true now as they have the ability to choose how characters look in meticulous detail, what they wear, how they stand, and so much more–to include painting them in precise, full color with just a few quick taps. Hero Forge and Shapeways provide the foundation for doing so with their own technological magic, but immense control has been handed over to players interested in taking precise command over the design and customization process.

Myriad of  Colors Are Available for Customizing Miniatures!

Designing gaming characters is even more fulfilling for users now as Shapeways is manufacturing Hero Forge miniatures with the Mimaki 3D printer, founded on Material Jetting technology. Shapeways 3D prints each full-color mini, packs it in customized shipping materials, and sends the order out for delivery.

Gone are the days of buying plain miniatures requiring hours of hand painting. Using Hero Forge technology which offers nearly limitless customization options and over ten million colors for 3D printing, the options are boundless. Both the vibrancy of the website and the actual products lend themselves to a fascinating—and comprehensive—design and gaming experience, featuring diverse characters in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

The story of the Shapeways and Hero Forge collaboration is one of evolution and growth, all converging together to solidify a long-term technology partnership. Continually elevated to new heights, tabletop gaming is more popular than ever with the massive re-emergence of fantasy RPGs, the new cool of geek culture, and the ability to stream games online. Find out more about the collaboration here.

About Shapeways

Shapeways has worked with over 1 million customers in 160 countries to 3D print over 20 million parts! Read case studies, find out more about Shapeways solutions, and get instant quotes here.

The post At Hero Forge: Tabletop Gamers Wield Vast Power in Customization appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Ten Million Colors to Choose From in 3D Printing

With the ability to 3D print parts in ten million colors using Mimaki technology, Shapeways produces incredibly vibrant, detailed models with High Definition Full Color. Designers are able to take advantage of intense detail for the tiniest of features—including facial hair or feathers on miniatures. The incredible potential for photorealism makes High Definition Full Color enticing for 3D modelers interested in 3D printing with vivid colors.

High Definition Full Color is also used for serious applications like medicine, creating 3D printed medical models capable of demonstrating unprecedented realism for anatomy and organs. Architects are also using High Definition Full Color for creating intricate and tangible models of homes, offices, hotels, and can even design a full representation of a city block, complete with accompanying infrastructure.

Find out more about 3D printing in full color.

Chess is Hot Right Now: 3D Print All Types of Gaming Accessories

There has been an unsurprising resurgence in games like chess due to the popularity of Netflix shows like The Queen’s Gambit. 3D printing designers have enjoyed making all sorts of game pieces and gaming figurines for years ahead of this latest trend. For the tabletop gaming enthusiast, there are so many different ways to customize pieces—creating entire 3D printed sets that are not only completely functional but are also works of art in themselves.

Shapeways customers like Jason Martineau are passionate about games like chess, along with the geometry and mathematics involved, leading to an interest in technology like 3D printing too:

“Inspired by my long-time interest in chess, geometry, and a background in 3D modeling, I wanted to remove the personifications typically found in chess sets (King, Queen, etc.) and reimagine the pieces as purely geometric forms, which align with the movements they can make in the game,” explained Martineau.  “While chess is certainly a game of strategy, underneath it is clearly also a game of geometry.”

Combining creativity with love of the game, a variety of different materials, technology, and finishes are available for gamers who enjoy 3D printing—or those who just might love a unique graduation or Father’s Day gift!

Now, check out some of the exceptional businesses working with Shapeways to 3D print a variety of amazing products. Many of these innovations could be perfect for Dads or grads, along with serving as inspiration for other 3D models to be uploaded.

The 3D Printed Hydrometer from Tilt Perfects the Beer-Brewing Process

Before helping his own customers get the craft beer just right, Noah Neibaron, CEO of Tilt Hydrometers, was on a serious road to perfection himself, working with Shapeways to 3D print his free-floating hydrometer. Going back to the drawing board without inhibition, Neibaron went through 110 iterations before he was satisfied with his design for the complex free-floating device, meant to measure sugar levels during fermentation.

Brewing really good craft beer is not as easy as it seems, which is why so many enthusiasts simply head to the store and buy it ready-made. Perseverance and patience are important to the process, which can be nicely enhanced by advanced technology, and tools like the 3D printed Tilt Hydrometer are an excellent example.

Neibaron patented the design for the hydrometer upon the advice of an engineering friend, who saw its initial promise.

“The inventive part of it is that instead of floating vertically or floating higher or lower depending on sugar levels, it floats at a different angle, almost off-center,” said Neibaron.

“The Shapeways part really helps dial in where that center of gravity is going to be,” said Neibaron. “It’s very sensitive, and that’s one of the big reasons we have used 3D printing. With Shapeways we were able to try various centers of gravity with different prints, quickly.”

The alternative to 3D printing the hydrometer was in milling plastic, which is not only a lot slower, but more expensive too. For both prototypes and end-use parts, Neibaron chose Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] due to its flexibility, the quality of both the surfaces and eventual finishes, and the ability to 3D print in a wide array of colors.

Get further inspired to create gift designs by reading this case study, or ordering a kit to give as a gift.  

3D Printed Drones Offer Versatile Fun & Function

That infinite expanse of sky above us is beginning to see more traffic these days as drones continue to increase in popularity. Drone owners on every level enjoy taking advantage of the benefits of 3D printed drones in making fast, lightweight aircraft versatile for racing, exploring, and so much more.

Kespry has been building their 3D printed drones with Shapeways since their inception, focusing on applications in surveying and mapping. Kespry drones have cut out the legwork for surveyors, creating UAVs that can cover hundreds of acres in mere hours.

Scalability and reliability have always been a key focus for Kespry:

“When we started with Shapeways, it was before we even had our first customer, and now we have hundreds of drones going out every quarter,” said Jordan Croom, Kespry’s lead mechanical engineer.

“Leveraging 3D printing and Shapeways allowed us to get things out there faster without paying an exorbitant premium to do it. And it also allows us to make modifications and improvements to our product without interrupting shipping them out to customers.”

Check out this case study on Kespry for further inspiration in drone development and manufacturing—and find out more about the Kespry Aerial Intelligence Platform and products here.

Quantum Systems is another company that relies on 3D printing in developing and manufacturing their drones. Founded in 2015 and specializing in advanced eVTOL (electric vertical take off and landing) drones, Quantum Systems rapidly progressed from prototyping to relying on Shapeways for complex, lightweight 3D printed drone parts manufactured with both Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] and MJF Plastic PA12.

Using their Trinity F90+ model, Quantum Systems has also been testing their drones for transport of medical samples, flying them from a medical site to a laboratory in less than seven minutes—showing the potential to cut courier services for time-critical items exponentially.

Quantum Systems CEO Florian Seibel, explained to Shapeways that they have many new projects planned for their drones in the future:

“Fortunately, all projects require the use of 3D printing. The drones sector still offers a lot of room to pack more features into smaller and more flexible products.”

For more details and inspiration in drone design, download this case study on Quantum Systems and find out more about eVTOL drones and products from Quantum Systems here.

3D Printed Accessories for the Off-Roading Thrill Seeker

67 Designs has come up with some great ideas for adventure seekers by developing extremely durable 3D printed dashboard mounts for tablets. Working with Shapeways, 67 Designs CEO Gavin Stener was able to stick with his continued dedication to 3D printing, and see a third-generation product manufactured—in the form of the MagMount, a high-quality mounting system.

“There’s only two types of quality,” said Stener. “There’s the quality of design, and then there’s the quality of conformance to design—and you must have both of those.”

“Sometimes you can look at a product and it seems really cool, but during the manufacturing process or due to the materials that have been used, it doesn’t last very long. That perhaps is a sign that there wasn’t good conformance to the design.”

Durability and quality finish were the two biggest reasons behind Stener’s choice to go with Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] for the MagMount, continuing on with their reputation for offering problem-free products; in fact, in five years of providing accessories for rental products, they have not had one issue reported.

Learn more about 67 Designs in this case study with Shapeways for inspiration in creating unique 3D designs, or shop at 67 Designs for vehicle accessories here.

There are so many great products to choose from this year, but we encourage you to upload your own designs too. It’s as easy as creating an account, uploading a 3D file, and receiving an instant quote for your order.

Shapeways has worked with over 1 million customers in 160 countries to 3D print over 20 million parts! Enjoy the benefits of advanced technology and a wide range of materials from Shapeways for 3D printing with accuracy, complex detail, and no minimum or limits in terms of mass customization or single part orders.

The post 3D Printed Gift Ideas and Inspiration for Dads & Grads 2021 appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

BotFactory’s insight into what engineers wanted came from their own weary experiences as students at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, where they missed a number of class deadlines while waiting on prototypes. The BotFactory quickly grew from concept to hardware, in the form of their initial machine, the Squink. George Kyriakou, BotFactory co-founder and COO, and his fellow engineers 3D printed the entire circuit board printer in their small headquarters. They were stumped by one part though: the vacuuming mechanism on the pick-and-place toolhead simply was not providing enough sucking action to do its job.

Ultimately, BotFactory realized they needed expert advice in refining the failing toolhead. Shapeways came into the picture upon the advice of a friend, leading them quickly to a new part. It was also the beginning of a great working relationship that has continued for years.

“We started with a very small part,” explained Kyriakou. “Our MakerBot Replicator 2 wasn’t able to make it completely air-proof, and we needed more advanced 3D printing technology for actual part usage.”

Working with Shapeways, BotFactory was able to source materials that worked best for them while making and perfecting the Squink. This was particularly easy due to the proximity of Shapeways in New York City, just a couple blocks away.

In the beginning, BotFactory was extremely happy with the ability to upload models online, find out if there were any printability issues, and best of all, receive instant quotes from Shapeways.

“Back then we were on a very tight budget and we were working with very low numbers, so being able to know exactly what to expect was very important,” said George Kyriakou.

In 2015 as BotFactory reached out to Shapeways for help, they were just beginning to see a glimmer of the future, with an ongoing need for more industrial 3D printed parts—especially with the complex geometries they needed to manufacture. There was also a lot of testing for materials before settling on Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] for many of their parts.

As BotFactory has evolved, Kyriakou mentioned the invaluable benefit in being able to work with their own account representative (Kevin Stott) at Shapeways, making the design and production process more helpful than ever as their 3D printing needs expanded.

“Words are not enough!” said Kyriakou in appreciation.

“In the beginning, although [the self-serve option] was very easy to use, as we started scaling up, we needed more. The ability to have an account representative who knows our product and knows our needs has been tremendously helpful.”

Although they still support their original printer, BotFactory has retired the Squink. Now superseded by the SV2 and an entire range of options to include the Starter, Enhanced, and Professional versions, BotFactory is working with Shapeways to 3D print numerous main hardware components for their circuit board printers. This includes the toolheads for inkjet printing, paste dispensing and pick-and-place—all the main components responsible for performing the fabrication and assembly of a PCB. Shapeways also 3D prints the head casings and other smaller components like mounting brackets.

The entirety of the mechanical engineering was carried out by Lead Mechanical Engineer Pranav Mahamuni, who stated “Shapeways is a key part of our product development cycle—we can count on meeting the strict tolerances and material capabilities that we need to make a precision PCB printer like ours.”

Ultimately, the goal at BotFactory is to create technology so mature and so approachable that they can make it available to every single electrical engineer. In the meantime, they are also working with the U.S. Air Force to develop on-demand 3D printing and assembly of their PCBs.

Check out ­­­­­­­­­BotFactory: Engineers Revolutionize PCB Manufacturing with 3D Printing, a case study offering a more in-depth look at how BotFactory grew from a small startup to a sophisticated technology company offering a new series of small circuit board printers.

Engineers from around the world have evolved in tandem with Shapeways, founded in 2007 in the Netherlands and now headquartered in New York City. Shapeways is able to look back on helping many talented individuals and promising businesses get their start in the technology and 3D printing industry—now with over 20 million products 3D printed for more than one million customers.

The post BotFactory Bridges the Gap: 3D Printing PCBs from the Desktop appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

From milling to mashing, and from boiling to fermenting, home brewing means putting weeks of time and care into unique, quality beverages. High-performance tools make all the difference, and this is how Tilt Hydrometers came to be—co-founded by long-time brewer and CEO, Noah Neibaron.

It is easy to see that beer branding has become much more sophisticated, even for those who aren’t imbibing. The choices today are bold and boundless, featuring robust taste, flashy names, and eye-catching labels. Selections are continually expanded at high-end grocery stores, bar menus are loaded with choices for savvy beer drinkers, and a thriving market has opened up on the home-brewing scene too.

The process of making craft beer means going back to the basics of brewing, with less mechanization and mass production. There is much more to the process of brewing at home than novices may realize. Success lies in owning the proper tools, and knowing how to monitor and measure—especially during fermentation. Noah Neibaron learned by trial-and-error years ago as a beginner in home brewing, quickly realizing that a better device was needed to measure sugar levels.

Noah’s goal was to found a company centered around making quality products to help others brew really good beer.

“I ended up learning a lot about technology,” said Noah. “I was passionate about brewing and I really wanted the business to take off.”

“Shapeways was a large part of that. They were really great with fast service, quality, and the range of colors which actually ended up affecting our whole product line because we now make eight different colored 3D printed tilts—and those are the colors Shapeways sells.”

Noah began the process of creating his now patented free-floating hydrometer by using a rudimentary 3D design software program. Originally, he was relying on plastic milling for manufacturing test models, but quickly realized the process was far too slow and expensive in comparison to additive manufacturing. Noah continued to expand his design skills, and began working extensively with Shapeways for 3D printed products.

Tilt Hydrometer was originally just planning to sell working prototypes, but as development continued, the design team decided they were ready to produce complete, functional 3D printed devices using Selective Laser Sintering in Nylon 12.

Durability in materials was a huge consideration, especially considering the Tilt may be sitting in beer for many weeks or be subjected to high temperatures during brewing.

“Even it is under stress from flex which keeps it locked into the tube, it doesn’t get stuck in one shape but springs back easily,” said Noah in regard to the hydrometer.

With a general patent on the innovative device, Noah mentions that users in other applications are testing the hydrometer in applications like making salt solutions and keeping salt levels in fish tanks accurate. The hydrometer is a very sensitive measuring tool; for example, it can measure less than half a teaspoon of sugar in a quart of water.

The Tilt Hydrometer customer base is very healthy, and Noah attributes this to the adoption of technologies well-suited to the product—along with serious dedication in making the best hydrometer possible for home brew.

Check out the full case study here.

Industrial 3D printing services from Shapeways allow you to reap the rewards of high-performance, quality materials without having to invest all your business capital in the powerful hardware, software, and materials required for your build. Read about case studies, find out more about our solutions, and get instant quotes here.

The post 3D Printed Tilt Hydrometers Bring Sophistication & Precision to Home-Brewing appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Here are four reasons why 3D printing can help with your new business and perhaps even a new career path:

1. Get to market quickly

The transition from idea to public launch could take many months if you are developing a product and looking for a traditional manufacturer to make your product according to their full schedule of production. 

With 3D printing, the transition from idea to public launch can be as short as 3 days. 

To launch your product, you’ll need:

1. A 3D model that is designed to be 3D printed. Find out more about making your model print-ready in this helpful tutorial if you are just beginning.
2. A successfully printed product. Print your 3D model before offering it for sale to make sure there are no surprises or problems that occurred during the initial process. If you are using one of our rapid prototyping materials like White Natural Versatile Plastic, the product should arrive to you in as quickly as three days for inspection.

3D printing allows you to react to market demand immediately. A prime example of this speed was demonstrated during the COVID-19 outbreak, as Shapeways was able to quickly iterate on a face shield design for essential workers—and provide necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) when the market saw a major shortage.

2. Hands-off Fulfillment

For e-commerce business users, one of the greatest benefits is the ability to have hands-off fulfillment through a Shapeways e-commerce integration. An order placed through the e-commerce integration is automatically sent to production at Shapeways, and will be manufactured and delivered directly to your customer. 

With Shapeways handling fulfillment:

1. You don’t have to purchase or keep an inventory of packaging supplies. All packaging is handled by Shapeways and covered in the cost of the order.
2. Forget about being on-call 24/7 for order fulfillment. The Shapeways team will automatically get your orders and fill them for you.

As your business grows, you may want to provide a more brand-focused customer experience. Shapeways can help with whitelabel shipping solutions, allowing you to customize the box and inserts that are sent with your orders.

 3. No need for a large investment up front

When launching a new product or business, you’re often confronted with the need to hold an inventory of products before any customers have expressed interest. This can be risky if it turns out your product is not popular. 

With 3D printing, place orders for your product as you need them, not in large quantities before you sell anything.

There are two main reasons you do not need to hold inventory:

1. Short lead times. Unlike more traditional manufacturing methods, products can be printed in a matter of days or weeks. For more information on lead times, visit the Shapeway Materials page for details by material.
2. No minimums. There’s no need to reserve manufacturing equipment for a large run of products. You can print 1 or 100 orders of your product, completely on demand.

In working with a company like Shapeways, you can take advantage of vast resources available to you online—or invest in as much or as little hardware, software, and materials as you want to on your own.  

4. Ready to scale

As you grow, you will be able to strategize more clearly and scale your business to maintain pace with your orders. The amount of effort you put in to get 1 order will be the same for 100 orders—or even 1,000 orders. 

As you scale, it might be time to switch to a new manufacturing process, and that’s great! You may also find that other manufacturing is more affordable for larger quantities, which you can switch to when you’re ready.

3D printing has a lot to offer. In addition to the reasons listed above, you can also enjoy the benefits of advanced technology and a wide range of materials for printing your creations with accuracy, complex geometries, and personalized details. Find out how Shapeways can help with your rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing processes needs.

Carolyn Dempsey is a Director of Product at Shapeways where she works to enable and scale digital manufacturing for over 1 million customers. She has a French Bulldog named Gus who did very little to assist in the writing of this blog. 

The post Four Reasons Why 3D Printing Is Ideal for E-Commerce appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The process of acquiring the right packaging for your business can also be time consuming, which is why in addition to on-demand printing and fulfillment services, Shapeways offers businesses custom packaging solutions that will help set your products apart from your competitors.

Not only is it possible to ship in boxes that differentiate your products from the standard Shapeways packaging, but you can also customize these boxes with your business’s unique branding to give your customers a more high-end experience. Another option is to include custom inserts and promotional materials inside these boxes. By partnering with Shapeways to handle your custom packaging needs, you can focus your attention on what you do best.

How Custom Packaging Can Benefit Your Business

Here are a few reasons why custom packaging can enhance your business and products.

Brand recognition

The more people are able to see your logo or branding, the more they will become familiarized with your business. Having your branding printed on your packaging will showcase your business wherever it goes and enhance your business presence.

Make your packaging share worthy

The more creative and appropriate your packaging is, the more likely people will share it with others. Customers can play an important role in word-of-mouth marketing with their ability to share their experience with your brand on social media. “Unboxing” videos on YouTube, for example, in which customers post videos of themselves receiving and opening new packages, could be enormously powerful in attracting new customers for you. Whenever existing customers share their unboxing experience with friends and family, having your branding clearly printed on the box they are opening from goes a long way to establish your brand recognition.

Increase customer satisfaction

Customers are usually pleased with a delivery experience that meets their expectations. But loyal customers are often gained when you can exceed this by going the extra mile. Making deliberate choices in packaging and making an event out of their reception of your product will give your customers an elevated boost of confidence in your business. Whether you choose a minimalist box or feature custom branding to make it stand out, purposeful presentation can greatly increase customer satisfaction by creating a memorable experience.

Create additional marketing opportunities with custom inserts

Inserts are a low-cost way of giving your customers something extra while also taking the opportunity to directly market to them. By including a coupon or a sticker with your branding in your package, you increase the value of your shipment to your customers and cultivate goodwill. And because you know what each customer is ordering, you can market similar products directly to them. Whether it’s a discount code, a cross-selling promotion or a thank-you note with a personal touch, inserts can help your brand build a positive relationship with your customers.

How can Shapeways help?

Now that you know how custom packaging can benefit your business, how will you go about implementing these changes? Luckily, by allowing Shapeways to handle all of your custom packaging needs, you can reap these benefits without having to create additional workflows. In addition to additive manufacturing services, Shapeways offers a range of custom packaging solutions to help you get started. Once Shapeways 3D prints your products, these can be shipped directly to your customers with your unique branding added. This is a highly efficient way of taking your business to the next level.

Shapeways’ custom packaging options

Shapeways can offer three kinds of packaging solutions depending on what works best for your brand.

Non-branded packaging

If you prefer a sleek, minimalist look, we recommend you choose between a white or brown cardboard box without external branding. This is a great option for you if your business is shipping a minimum of 100 orders a month and are looking to upgrade from our standard, Shapeways-branded packaging.

Branded packaging

For a more professional packaging option that includes your unique branding, you can choose white or brown cardboard boxes that are sealed with custom-branded tape. This is an upgraded option if your business is shipping a minimum of 500 orders a month and are looking to strengthen your brand presence.

Premium Branded packaging

Premium Branding is our top-tier custom packaging option that can help your packages stand out wherever they are delivered. With this option you can have your own custom branding printed onto either brown or white cardboard boxes for maximum brand exposure. This is especially advantageous for your business if you are shipping a high volume of orders each month.

Custom inserts, stickers and promotional materials

Including additional information or promotional materials in your product’s packaging is the most convenient and effective way of reaching your customers directly. Have you unveiled new products that you would like your customers to know about? Do you have instructions on how customers can re-order in the future? How about providing coupons for a similar product? Shapeways can work with you to incorporate these messages into your packaging. Custom stickers are another fun way of giving your customers something extra while promoting your brand.

Custom packaging can provide your customers with a memorable and consistent experience that encourages brand loyalty and repeat purchasing. With Shapeways’ packaging and shipping solutions, your business can have access to a one-stop-shop for the manufacturing and fulfillment of your products so that you can run your business efficiently and effectively.

Contact the Shapeways team to get started!

The post Custom Packaging For Your 3D Printing Business appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Shapeways’ bulk 3D printing solution gives you access to high-volume 3D printing using the most advanced manufacturing technology and materials at affordable prices.

Advantages of using additive manufacturing vs traditional manufacturing for bulk orders

While additive manufacturing is on the rise as an end-use production process, often the first thought is that it is a low-volume endeavor. Bringing 3D printing into industrial production, though, can actually offer significant advantages over traditional manufacturing workflows, like on-demand production, fewer kinks in the supply chain, reductions in storage and inventory costs, and reduced waste.

Advanced planning vs printing on-demand

One of the biggest advantages of additive manufacturing is that 3D printing does not require tooling or molding to be made. This can lead to a much faster turnaround time, as well as lower material and labor costs, as a major step of traditional manufacturing workflows — think injection molding — is bypassed completely.

This can lead to relatively immediate on-demand production; all that’s needed is a digital file to be 3D printed. Shortening lead times between design and production means less upfront work for you — so if you don’t have the time for a hefty chunk of time to plan in advance, moving to 3D printing on-demand can kickstart the process.

Supply chain kinks

Traditional bulk production often includes calculated supply chains built on the premise of low-cost supplies, which in many cases means reliance on overseas suppliers. When those supply chains are confronted with unforeseen kinks — perhaps international borders closing due to a global health crisis, for example — operations can completely shut down.

On-demand production with additive manufacturing goes hand-in-hand with decentralized production. 3D printing has been on the rise due to recent global events that have overturned traditional supply chains, as international logistics are unnecessary. Shapeways is headquartered in New York City, with manufacturing facilities in Long Island City and the Netherlands, maintaining a prominent global presence around the world.

Storage and inventory costs

A major need for bulk parts comes from the ongoing need for spare or replacement parts. In many cases, these parts are made at the same time as original parts and physically stored in massive warehouses, ready to be pulled from the shelf and shipped out as needed. That can be convenient — but can also lead to tricky situations when those physical parts take up physical space that needs to be paid for, and when they run out after a design becomes obsolete without regular inventories being made anymore.

3D printing spare and replacement parts on demand removes the need for physical storage. When spare parts are stored as digital files, no shelf space need be taken up, freeing up warehouse floor space and the costs needed for physical storage. Only as many parts as are required at a given time need be made, and so long as that design is available they can be made at any point, even if the original supplier is unavailable, obsolete, or out of business.

Reduced waste

Milling, casting, molding, and other traditional forms of manufacturing broadly require significantly more material than just what goes into a final part. Subtractive processes like cutting and milling carve out parts from larger blocks of material, inherently creating waste in the production stage. That waste ultimately adds up in terms of both cost and lack of sustainability. For molding and casting, additional tools like molds are needed as well.

Additive manufacturing is, well, additive. Many 3D printing processes build up a part layer by layer, using only the material necessary. Even when support structures are required during the build, these are often lattice-like structures that use much less material than would otherwise be cut away on a CNC machine. Using only the material required is a major cost- and waste-saving measure that is unique to additive manufacturing when it comes to production — and especially so when it comes to bulk orders.

Factors to consider when choosing a manufacturing service

Working with a manufacturing service for your bulk production needs can create a smoother workflow. When you work with Shapeways bulk 3D printing, you immediately gain access to expert-driven design, customer service, and production quality. A manufacturing service like Shapeways also comes fully equipped with a broad variety of hardware, software, materials, and — perhaps most importantly — the expert know-how about when and why to choose the best-fit option for each. Making the choice to work with a manufacturing service, though, is still a multi-faceted decision-making process that includes factors like upfront costs, volume, model complexity, material, time-to-market, and future iterations.

Upfront costs

In-house production can often make a lot of sense. Using your own equipment and personnel shortens supply chains, tightens turnaround, and ensures you always know what’s happening. It does, though, limit production efforts to what you have already invested in. New industrial manufacturing equipment requires substantial upfront investment and training, and while that equipment will presumably be targeted toward the process(es) you use most, it may not always be the best choice for a new application.

When you need a run of parts for a bulk order, but that isn’t a standing need that would offer a logical return on investment that would merit buying in to new industrial equipment, turning to a manufacturing service offers immediate access to the appropriate manufacturing capabilities. Costs are limited to the order you place without additional capital investment.

Volume

Outsourcing bulk production frees up your time and team to focus on your own operations. When having parts manufactured at volume, there will inherently be a good amount of time dedicated to that manufacturing. A manufacturing service offers access to an industrial facility designed for volume production.

This includes access to industrial 3D printing equipment. An industrial SLS machine, for example, can produce magnitudes more individual prints than could a desktop 3D printer. Final quality of those parts would also be superior due to post-processing capabilities geared toward handling large quantities of parts at a time. End-to-end fulfillment can be greatly enhanced in a full-scale production facility.

Model complexity

Design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) is a dedicated discipline that requires attention to a new set of design parameters for this new form of manufacturing. While designing a relatively simple geometry for your part may be in your wheelhouse, a more complex 3D design that leverages some of the biggest advantages possible with additive manufacturing — think lattice structures that offer strength but with less material and lighter weight, or reducing part counts — requires thorough DfAM knowledge.

Working with experts in DfAM who work day-in-day-out with these technologies can help you generate the perfect design for your model, as well as gain access to the technology and materials to make it come to life. When you’re in the market for bulk manufacturing, ensuring the perfect design is a critical step before producing that design en masse.

Material

With more than 10 3D printing technologies and more than 75 different choices of material to suit, Shapeways has you covered for plastic, metal, sandstone, and casting needs. Each of these processes and materials can be suited for bulk orders of any size. Our automatic bulk pricing for Nylon 12 makes bulk 3D printing seamlessly easy, for example.

Time to market

If you have a design file ready to go for bulk 3D printing, great! It’s off to the 3D printers and shortly to you. If, though, you need some work in designing, rapid prototyping, and getting market-ready first, we have full workflows in place to ensure that your time-to-market can be fully optimized. Working with 3D printing — and DfAM experts — at every step can streamline your go-to-market process.

What would traditionally take months or even years to be market-ready can be cut down to days or weeks with on-demand 3D printing including for bulk orders.

Future iterations

Many products on the market today can be updated to keep up with new capabilities or new user needs. Think about smartphones and other regularly-updated products — these take the best of an established design and continue to build it into something better, often in response to user demand. This process is made all the easier with digital designs.

Rapid prototyping isn’t just for the prototyping stage; iterating to update for future designs can be done at any time. This is one of the key benefits to working with a digital manufacturing technology like 3D printing. Your next-generation update — complete with access to bulk production — is just an updated design file away!

Customer example

As popular wisdom holds that “show, don’t tell” is the best way to prove a point, we’d like to share an example of customer work achieved through the Shapeways platform.

Voytek Medical

Voytek Medical offers a service often sought-after in the medical field, though perhaps not discussed very often. The company develops products that lock patient cables to appropriate bedside or roll stand monitors, ensuring the safe performance of untangled cables — without potentially voiding warranties or needing to modify the equipment itself. These carefully designed products benefit from being 3D printed as they can be designed to keep up with market feedback and needs, all without the increased overhead costs inherent in injection molding.

“Voytek has always been a big proponent of desktop 3D printing, it has its benefits and limitations. Desktop 3D printing is great for prototyping and making changes on the fly and testing different designs. What the technology begins to fall short is in the build quality of the materials, and production times. I would not be able to fulfill orders on a desktop printer, the labor of which would sink the turnaround time. Shapeways allows me to get large batch orders quickly and without cosmetic or build quality flaws,” Voytek explains.

Working with Shapeways’ bulk 3D printing offering, the company experienced professional solutions at necessary volumes.

Please contact us today to learn more about our bulk 3D printing service and how we can help you every step of the way for your next project.

The post What Is Bulk 3D Printing? – A Complete Guide appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Experimenting with virtual reality is an exciting — and somewhat unnerving — process. It often requires much trial and error, which is precisely why the team at Spaces needed to find a final stage prototyping process to aid them. That’s where Shapeways stepped in. Spaces loves Shapeways’ dimensional accuracy and durability and has used 3D printing –primarily the Multi Jet Fusion Plastic PA12 material – ever since first discovering the company.

Why is it beneficial to print with Shapeways over traditional manufacturing methods such as injection molding?

Spaces: We are constantly inventing and iterating, most of the time under very tight time constraints. Using 3D printing allowed us to make parts that broke some rules and to make changes to parts quickly. Shapeways helped us create parts that could not be manufactured through conventional injection molding. Undercuts are a major concern with any tooling for injection molding and create a lot of work to get parts made.

Spaces utilizes 3D printing to build virtual reality experiences. (Photo courtesy of Spaces)

Which is your most used material?

Our most used material is the Multi Jet Fusion Plastic PA12 because it gives us acceptable resolution and is durable.

Why do you print with Shapeways versus desktop 3D printing?

The quality and quantity of the Shapeways parts we print are the main benefit. For the most part, desktop printing does not produce the same quality and resolution. Also, most desktop printers can be unreliable, which is something we cannot take a chance with when printing large quantities of parts for our installations. Most of our parts are conceived using desktop printing methods and then turned over to Shapeways for printing en masse.

What are the added benefits of using Shapeways?

We have been impressed with the customer service. Personal attention is very important when we are working against tight deadlines.

More from the Material of the Month Series: PA12

Part One: Material Overview
Part Two: Material Comparison: Nylon Plastics
Part Three: Business Example: PA12 used in the virtual reality industry
Part Four: Tutorial: Post processing PA12

The post 3D Printing Virtual Reality Products in MJF PA12 appeared first on Shapeways Blog.