Here’s a quick guide to some of the most amazing materials you can design and 3D print with right now.

Frosted Detail Plastic

If you’re looking for the most accurate 3D printing material, one of the best options is frosted detail plastic. We use a multi-jet process, printing and curing each layer one at a time to create high-definition designs that are perfect for model trains, miniature figures, and other small objects.

Frosted detail plastic comes in Ultra and Extreme Detail options—the latter is best for incredibly detailed features like engravings. Both versions of the material can also be painted over easily for a splash of color.

HP Nylon Plastic

We use a top of the line HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200 to print strong and functional objects out of nylon plastic. It’s perfect for phone cases, camera mounts, and drone parts, but it’s also smooth enough to make jewelry, toys, and home decor.

Nylon plastic is also cheap to print, and comes in black or gray. If you’re designing with it, keep in mind that stiff, thicker objects are less likely to warp. Smaller details will also show up more clearly in black.

Aluminum

This is the only metal material other than steel that we can directly print (rather than 3D printing wax and creating a mold). Aluminum’s strength makes it an ideal choice for mechanical and other load bearing parts.  Additionally, Aluminum is perfect for bike accessories and other products that will be exposed to the environment due its high corrosion resistance. It’s not cheap to print, but it’s still not as expensive as other metal materials like gold.

If you’re designing in aluminum, remember that sharp edges on your object could get rounded down. The material also isn’t accurate enough for complex interacting parts like screws and nuts, though it does support interlocking parts.

Full Color Sandstone

If you want a multi-colored object, Sandstone is the way to go. It’s a fantastic full-color 3D printing material and it’s pretty cheap too, making it the perfect choice for figurines and lifelike models.

Shapeways special printing process for Sandstone involves creating one layer of color at a time.The finished product will look amazing on your desk or up on a shelf, though it’s too brittle to be handled on a regular basis.

Gold and Platinum

Finally, we come to precious metals. Yes, you can create gold objects with Shapeways in either 14 karat (gold, rose gold, or white gold) or an extra vibrant 18k gold option. For truly special objects, you can also choose to 3D print in platinum.

The process involves 3D printing a wax model which is used to create a plaster mold.  The plaster mold is used to pour and cast the material, and it works for platinum too. It’s perfect for creating small rings, earrings and other jewelry. Of course, gold and platinum don’t come cheap, but if you’re looking to create an extra special piece of jewelry, this is a great way to do it.

Try it Now

The post 6 Incredible Materials You Can 3D Print in Now appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The history of the AC Cobra is pretty unique among sports cars:

In September 1961, American automotive designer Carroll Shelby wrote to [British car manufacturer] AC asking if they would build him a car modified to accept a V8 engine. AC agreed [to the modifications to its roadster], provided a suitable engine could be found. Shelby went to Chevrolet to see if they would provide him with engines, but not wanting to add competition to the Corvette, they said no. However, Ford wanted a car that could compete with the Corvette, and they happened to have a brand new engine which could be used in this endeavor: the Windsor 221 in³ (3.6 L) engine – a new lightweight, thin-wall cast small-block V8. Ford provided Shelby with two engines. – Wikipedia

And the AC Cobra was born! The cars were only manufactured for five years, helping their legend to grow far beyond their availability. Thankfully, Sebastiaan’s love for the vintage roadster led him to create something truly extraordinary.

You don’t get to see a 1:4 scale car very often, so I drove the two-and-a-half hours from Eindhoven to Assen, from one end of the country to the other, to see what Sebastiaan had spent the past year making.

When I got there, I was blown away. His AC Cobra is almost a meter long — and it’s a masterpiece:

Sebastiaan has a gift for drawing: Show him the front, side and top views of a car and he “understands the lines” and can effortlessly draw the exterior on his computer. Interiors take him a bit longer, but he can 3D model those too by simply looking at a handful of photographs.

Sebastiaan spoke to me before about his gift for drawing as if it’s nothing special, but based on my own forays into 3D design and what I hear from other community members, he’s awfully modest. Next time I visit him we will focus more on the design process, and we’ll bring you the full story of 3D printing a car on this scale — but this time, I was simply too amazed by this car to do anything but stare:

Check out the stunning interiors:

The seats are 3D printed, then finished in leather. And yes, the buckles actually work.

In some cases, for instance the gears in the dashboard, Sebastiaan 3D printed molds, then made the pieces out of aluminum. The steering wheel is made of wood — and you can even remove the key from the ignition.

Sebastiaan printed the radiator in Shapeways Frosted Ultra Detail plastic. The headlights are made from our Transparent Detail Acrylic, then treated in a clear gloss. The blinkers get a coat of orange acrylic paint.

The wheels are made of Elasto Plastic. Sebastiaan found it particularly challenging to get the the right jet-black look.

On the picture below, the two left hubcaps on the table are 3D printed Sterling Silver and the other two parts in the foreground are Rhodium Plated Brass. Which do you think look more realistic?

The exterior is made from Shapeways Strong & Flexible Plastic. At 99 cm long, it needed to be printed in parts. With all the layers of paint, however, there are no visible seams. In the Facebook Live video below you see us taking a closer look at the overlap of parts at 5:00.

You can learn more about the AC Cobra from this Facebook Live stream from my visit to Sebastiaan’s workshop and home in Assen. We start with a reveal and then take a closer look to the rich details of this scale model:

You can buy some Sebastiaan’s AC Cobra parts from his Shapeways shop, BigScale Cars.

What do you think of this model AC Cobra? Share your thoughts in the comments.

The post A Closer Look at a Breathtaking 3D Printed 1:4 Scale AC Cobra appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Here, Shelley tells us about her daily podcast rotation when she’s making your products, and her own functional ceramic artwork.

Where is your hometown?
Born in NYC (almost in a taxicab) and raised in Flushing, Queens.

How long have you been with Shapeways?
Just celebrated one year last week!

How long have you been 3D printing?
Not long. It’s been sporadic since taking a 101 class in college. Shapeways makes it easier since we have awesome Skillshare sessions on 3D modeling.

What is your favorite 3D printed object ever?
Oh dear. If I must choose, since there are so many different objects out there, it would be the Nervous System 3D printed dresses!

If you could 3D print something in any material, currently possible or not, what would you pick and why?
Body parts. There are so many people on organ waiting lists. And what if I lose my hands in a freak accident? I can just print a pair and attach them just as new.

How do you spend your time when you’re not bringing our community’s 3D printed vision to life?
I’m an ice-cream connoisseur and spend my weekends searching for NYC’s most delicious flavors. Also, I am a ceramic artist and make functional porcelainware at my studio in Greenpoint.

What’s the most exciting thing you’ve learned about 3D printing in your time at Shapeways?
My mind was blown when I learned that Frosted Extreme Detail plastic can print in 16 micron-layers. That’s 0.0016 centimeters! I give myself a minute during our manufacturing process to marvel at the intricate details of some of the models.

What’s on your work playlist?
I listen to Rick and Morty to tide me over until they release Season 3 this summer.

I am also unabashedly in love with prehistoric creatures and educate myself by listening to dinosaur podcasts.

If you started your own Shapeways shop, what would you sell?
Delightfully quirky jewelry and some ceramic Voronoi vases.

In a perfect world, what is the trajectory of 3D printing?
Accessible and affordable 3D printed medicine, food, and organs for people who are in need.

Give us some words to live by.
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. Especially when that time will pass you by anyway.

Do you have any questions for Shelley or the other 3D printing engineers? Let us know in the comments and we will deliver!

The post Meet the Shapies: Shelley Park appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

It was 2012, and the print was a sculptural cross between origami and Platonic solids that I had already printed large-scale on my university’s ProJet 660 sandstone printer and would later evolve into my college thesis.

I was a green modeler then, with a limited skill set and ambitious ideas but lacking the polish that would come with experience. Fascinated with the fantasy of printing in metal and over the moon that I had the opportunity to give it a go via Shapeways, I thought turning my pride and joy into a necklace would be the perfect introduction. So I punched a hole through some of the thinner arms to create holes for the chain, and submitted the file for printing in Stainless Steel.

My file was rejected.

Disappointed, but still determined, I worked with Shapeways customer service and engineers to find out what went wrong. They let me know exactly why my part wouldn’t print the way I expected and gave me instructions on what I could do to make it printable in stainless steel. Even with my deep understanding of the process of 3D printing, I had no experience with printing in steel, but I studied the material guidelines and learned how to be deliberate with my tolerances, thicknesses, and sizes.

Wiser, I adjusted accordingly and resubmitted, and met rejection again, and again, and then one more time, learning more, more, and more, accepting each rejection as an opportunity to test my 3D modeling knowledge and build on it. Finally, my part was accepted, and a week later I was holding my first Shapeways baby!

A render of the final, approved steel design

Having used Shapeways for five years now, we know how important that process of frustration and iteration is for any 3D modeling and printing beginner. If you are looking to order your first Shapeways print, here’s some of what we’ve learned.

Manage Expectations

What is your vision? Why are you 3D printing this? Take the time to craft your design and purpose, and be honest with yourself as to how this idea may or may not translate into 3D. Keep in mind all your parameters. Remember that each print is wholly unique and made-to-order.

Understand the Process, Understand Your Materials

It’s a common misconception that 3D printing consists of a single technology and method of manufacturing. The dozens of different materials offered by Shapeways each use completely different processes. How are the layers built up? Will Shapeways add support material to overhanging structures? How do the materials change during printing? In post-production? This context will help you design files optimized for printing in the material you choose, and can help you understand better why Shapeways may initially reject your file. Take advantage of all the literature and images Shapeways provides for each material.

Don’t Cut Corners

Be economical, think ahead, and model with design intent. Never compromise the structural integrity of your model to get it through model check or to cut down on cost.

Iterate, Iterate, Iterate

The power of rapid prototyping lies in the ability to iterate faster. Testing is a huge part of the learning process, and it really pays off in the long run. Your pieces will always be better with refinement. Especially if you’re planning on selling 3D prints, please test them out beforehand whenever possible, and take great pictures. You want to make sure you’re selling a quality product, and potential customers would rather see images of printed parts over renders!

Afraid iterating will burn a hole in your pocket? Create small-scale test prints. Use similar but less-expensive materials. Print only a section of your piece. You’ll want to avoid going straight to final without managing your expectations and iterating smartly.

Ask Questions

The Shapeways community is a powerful one, and always welcoming. Participate in forum conversations, where incredibly knowledgeable communities of extremely generous experts speak to everything from modeling tips and tricks to the best paints for finishing certain materials. There will always be someone willing to take a look at your file or help tweak your design. With so much to learn, never be afraid to ask questions!

Try Something New

From Frosted Ultra Detail to Platinum, Shapeways has given makers access to a range of materials and 3D printing technologies that are otherwise very difficult to obtain and work with. So, take advantage of their offerings to experiment. We encourage you to challenge and surprise yourself as you train your 3D modeling and printing brain.

It took an army of turtle iterations to get the articulated components right

TheLaserGirls have a term for that thirst-quenching moment, when your Shapeways package is finally in your hands and you get to see the manifestation of many long hours in front of the computer screen come to fruition. We call it the Christmas Moment, a moment that you know is coming, but nonetheless is full of excitement and uncertainty. With 3D printing, even after hours spent designing the smallest detail, you never truly know what you are going to get until you get it — and it never gets less incredible. Here’s to all your future Christmas Moments!

The “Christmas moment”

Do you remember your first Shapeways print? Tell us about it in the comments!

The post Your First Shapeways Print: Tips and Tricks for Success appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Metalhead Mini’s Lyn posted the above YouTube video on choosing which material to order your miniatures in after having accidentally ordering them in WSF and being disappointed in the lack of detail on the print. We’re especially grateful she’s shared her experience in this video because she compares the various prints throughout. The gorgeous miniatures featured in the video are from the ManaWorldComics shop on Shapeways. Lyn’s experience has also inspired us to do a WSF x FUD x Black High Definition Acrylate miniatures-showdown on the Magazine soon! So keep an eye out for that in the near future.

And, if you’re looking for tips on how to paint FUD, check out this blog post!

The post The Best Materials for Miniatures? A Community Member Weighs In appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

3D printing in FUD involves a process called Multijet Modeling, in which ultraviolet light is used to cure layer upon layer of liquid plastic. Once the final layer has set and the 3D printer stops, the translucent pieces are heated, washed to remove wax supports, inspected for quality, and hand-dried.

Frosted Extreme Detail (FXD), which has layers almost twice as fine as FUD, follows a similar process.

When designers can produce details on the scale of a human hair without the constraints of traditional casting processes, they can create amazing things.

“I always start with the smallest details, designing them at the minimum threshold, then bulking up the surrounding details so the piece stays in proportion,” Kacie Hultgren, who sells furniture for dollhouses and architectural models at her Shapeways shop Pretty Small Things, says.

One of Pretty Small Things’ 1:48 Queen Anne Chairs

Many customers will paint their FUD pieces. See this post for tips and tricks for painting your own.

To prepare for painting his pieces, Antonio Regidor, who sells miniature spaceships and other sci-fi models at 308 Bits, uses isopropyl alcohol or acetone — “But watch out!” he says. “These products can dissolve/melt FUD so the parts must have a short bath —seconds — and rinse with water immediately.“ Then he sands them before painting.

A painted scale model from Lenni’s Modelshop

Kacie prefers dish soap and warm water to prepare for painting. “If there is excess wax left on the piece, I put them on a sunny window sill with a paper towel underneath to catch the melted wax,” she says. She prefers Testors acrylic model paints.

Plenty of FUD pieces remain unfinished. Their delicate beauty, however, can be challenging to capture in a photograph. Here’s Kacie’s approach:

I like to use a dark, rich colored background. Then I try to set up the best lighting situation I can. Sometimes I’ve used a low cost LED ring light over the lens of my camera or phone. Other times I can get away with ambient light. Most importantly, I shine a flashlight from the top. Flashlights with adjustable intensity work best. I often use parchment or tissue paper over the lens to diffuse the light. The light from above highlights the details in the FUD that can otherwise get lost in a photo and brightens the material so it’s clearly distinguished from the background.

What have you made in FUD? Share your projects in the comments below for a chance to be featured on the blog.

The post Materials Explainer: 3D Printing in Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD) appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

We were able to shave this much time off the process by adding new machines to increase manufacturing capacity while making our planning and post-processing systems more efficient.

Now is a great time to print your favorite model railroad car, sci-fi miniatures, or wargaming products — and enjoy them faster than ever!

For a chance to be featured on the blog, let us know in the comments how you’re using Frosted Ultra Detail plastic in your designs.

The post We Just Got Faster, Again — FUD Lead Times Cut in Half! appeared first on Shapeways Blog.