Jeané is a Customer Service Representative at Shapeways’ Eindhoven facility, but her path to the role — and the insight she brings to it — is far from typical. “About two years ago we moved to Eindhoven. I have a background in 3D design, so I just found that Shapeways might be a great fit for me. At that time, a role opened up in the distribution center, which I applied for.”

She got the job, but that was just the start. “During my time in distribution, I started to learn the systems and processes and got the opportunity to work a bit more in post-production. Then I moved over to pre-production, doing some planning. And then about three months ago, the job opportunity opened up in customer service. I thought it might be a good fit — I applied and got the job.”

Using experience that touches every part of the production process has allowed Jeané to shape how she supports customers. “It definitely helps… when a client reaches out, I understand the processes. I can give them a reason why something is happening. I feel it’s very important that when communicating to clients, not just to give them an answer but to give them understanding.”

A bridge between the customer and the factory

To many of us, ‘customer services’ is synonymous with people complaining, but that’s not true, explained Jeané. “Most of my time is spent behind the computer answering clients’ requests. But a lot of it is also spent running around the factory, reaching out to team members regarding specific client inquiries or orders, which is kind of fun.”

Every morning at Shapeways starts with an all-hands production meeting where the whole team can give updates and highlight any issues of note, which Jeané sees as critical to her role. “You know who to speak to, who’s doing what. It gives a really good overview of the whole day.” She also joins a brief management meeting to understand what’s happening in other parts of the business. “I’m a very curious person. It’s a good excuse to know what’s happening everywhere with everyone.” This curiosity and Jeané’s technical insight allows her to have a greater impact in her role.

Communication hub

Curiosity is just one part of the job. Communication and empathy are also key. “Putting yourself in the client’s shoes and problem solving is not always easy. Some people want their parts as soon as possible, but that’s not always feasible… you want to find that sweet spot to keep your team happy but also the client.”

And that communication goes both ways. “Sometimes I get an answer from my colleagues, but I don’t fully understand what they’re telling me. I’m comfortable enough to ask for clarification. And they have the patience to explain it so that I can go back to the customer with clear, helpful communication.”

Jeané’s experience and understanding of the production floor gives her an advantage, being able to flesh out answers and provide better context. Sometimes, by advising that a client makes a small change she can show how the rest of the process would be positively impacted.

That ability to translate technical complexity into clear, helpful guidance is what she sees as core to her role. “A lot of clients have their file, they submit it, they want their part, and they just want you to help them quickly. They don’t really care too much about all the intricacies involved in the process — that’s for us to deal with.”

“But some do; you get a feel from a client’s request about what level of information they want. It’s about reading between the lines… what they’re asking might not be exactly what they need to know or there may be additional information that would be useful for them.”

Team and human touch

“The thing I really like most is when you assist someone and they get it… if clients reach out to you regarding a specific project and say, ‘Because of you, our project was such a success’, that’s absolutely awesome. When something like that happens during my day, I go home and say I had such a good day.”

Working at Shapeways, Jeané sees a company where everyone shares a mindset. “I am in customer service, but the whole team really has such a service mindset… everyone has the customer’s best interests at heart. Because we all work towards the same goal, it really helps me in my job.”

And what keeps her excited to come to work every day?

“Mainly, I would say it’s the people. Every day there is something new  to discuss. People are open, fun and interesting.” You can follow along with the Shapeways Team Spotlight series to find out more about the team behind the scenes.

The post Jeané Bresler — Customer service in alignment with production appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The reception to the acquisition of the Shapeways brand and, more recently, Thangs by the new management team has been overwhelmingly positive. As the team reconnects with its roots, we’re thrilled to provide renewed opportunities to serve the vibrant 3D printing community.

With the return of Shapeways’ core team and the addition of Thangs’ cutting-edge platform, we are creating a secure and innovative space for makers and creators to thrive. While excitement grows, some questions remain about the details behind this transformative acquisition. To address these, Jim Woodcock spoke with Marleen Vogelaar, CEO, and Jules Witte, COO, to discuss the recent developments and speak with some of the people behind the developments. In this video Marleen and Jules discuss how and why the acquisition of Shapeways and Thangs came about, exploring the what, why, who, and how of this bold move.

Rebuilding is going to take time and effort. Our first focus for Shapeways is creating stability and an ongoing supply for our customers, including those we have retained, regained as well as new clients. Many were left without a comparable alternative. Our team has worked day and night to retain and welcome back all of these relationships, delivering the high-quality parts they were accustomed to. 

During the conversation Marleen explained why Thangs acquisition was always on the to-do list for the new team: “... What we have been doing for the last few months is to see ‘OK, what’s the alternative?’ because [the previous Shapeways] marketplace software was kind of dilapidated because it hadn’t been invested in since 2018. But even so there was a core of that Shapeways community that is still alive, so we were scratching our heads thinking ‘how do we serve these people in a better way?’”

The immediate work that the Shapeways team are undertaking in the coming months will be to create a ‘Print to Shapeways’ API and to create a shop environment for our former shop owners.

Watch the video to find out more about what makes Thangs the right solution moving forward, how 3D search will help users and what to expect from the combination of Shapeways and Thangs in future.

The post Bringing Shapeways home, and welcoming Thangs — Marleen Vogelaar and Jules Witte explain more about how and why appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

As part of our journey of the last half year, we’re excited to share some incredible news: Shapeways has acquired Thangs, the leading 3D model sharing and discovery platform! 

Back in the summer when we set out to reboost Shapeways, we knew that we could not save the marketplace as is. Even though we are now a B2B company, we still very much believe in the power of the designer community. We were adamant to find a true solution for the Shapeways community. 

Two weeks ago when we made our major announcement that Shapeways has returned home, we could only share that we were looking for a solution. And now I am excited and grateful that in Thangs we have found that solution and a new home for the Shapeways community. 

We’re turning Thangs into the new home for all creators – both digital and physical – and Shapeways will be the manufacturing engine behind it. Together with Thangs, we’re building a seamless ecosystem that empowers designers, shop owners, and anyone looking to turn ideas into reality. 

Thangs has a modernized platform for creators with robust IP protection and a team that cares very much for their creators and community. On top of that, the collaboration between the two companies will bring exciting updates:

• New opportunities to monetize designs with expanded tools and resources
• A stronger, more connected community of designers and 3D printing enthusiasts

Our mission is to enable you to thrive in this rapidly growing space. By combining Shapeways’ world-class manufacturing capabilities with Thangs’ innovative tools, we’re unlocking new possibilities for the entire community.

Please welcome Thangs into the Shapeways family and do go check them out on www.thangs.com. They are ready to welcome you with open arms. And if you want to be part of their Shapeways Trusted Tester group, please sign up here. 

If you would like to know more, here are the FAQ’s and Press Release in regards to the acquisition. 

We now have all key parts in place. Let’s build something beautiful together! 

Warmly,

Marleen Vogelaar

The post Welcome Thangs to the Shapeways Family! appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

I co-founded Shapeways in 2007 with the goal of democratizing digital manufacturing for individuals and businesses. As former COO, I led Shapeways through the launch of the world’s first upload-to-3D-print service, ultimately building the company into the largest 3D printing marketplace in the world and a series of factories that pushed the envelope of agile digital manufacturing for our customers. This would have been impossible without the resounding enthusiasm, engagement, and support we received from you – the customers and community that developed around us. In 2014, I left to create and lead a series of manufacturing startups. I was disheartened to watch Shapeways’ mounting financial struggles in recent years, culminating in bankruptcy this past summer.

Today, I am delighted to announce my return to steward Shapeways into its next chapter. I am joined by original co-founder Robert Schouwenburg – who left Shapeways in 2012 to found and develop other technology startups – as well as the highly skilled leadership team from our Eindhoven factory – Jules Witte, Tiago Sao Jose, and Job van de Laar. Together, we are passionate about bringing back a stable, sustainable Shapeways that delivers for our customers.

Inspired by your ever-evolving needs, Shapeways was able to build an exceptional digital manufacturing engine – a combination of dedicated, skilled people, cutting-edge machinery and sophisticated software – adept at producing one-of-a-kind and small series products alike. After pouring so much of our combined energy and passion into building this engine, and seeing the damage the bankruptcy caused our stakeholders, we knew we had to save what we could. And so we have stepped in to resurrect the company, and retain the value of the engine we built together with you, our community and other stakeholders.

Rebuilding is a large task, and we have much to do. Our first focus for Shapeways is creating stability and an ongoing supply for the customers of the defunct organization. Many were left without a comparable alternative. Our team has worked day and night to retain and welcome back all of these relationships, delivering the high-quality parts they were accustomed to. While factory operations continue smoothly, unfortunately the marketplace won’t be available in the way it existed before July 2024. All marketplace data was lost in the bankruptcy, and the software we were able to acquire is outdated and not scalable. This is a big loss for Shapeways and our community. We are actively seeking alternative solutions and we humbly ask for your patience and support as we do so.

In this new chapter, Shapeways will enhance and expand our digital manufacturing engine to deliver B2B solutions tailored to custom products, spare parts management, machinery lifespan optimization, and supply chain efficiency. Through strategic partnerships, we aim to bring these solutions closer to all of our customers, ensuring maximum accessibility and impact.

Moving forward, as we did in our early days, we will put our customers’ success at the center of all we do. Thank you for your continued support.

Warmly,

Marleen Vogelaar

CEO

Read our Dec 3rd Press Release

Read our FAQs

Read our Marketplace Update

The post A Letter from Our New CEO, Marleen Vogelaar appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

In July of 2024, after experiencing mounting financial difficulty, Shapeways Inc. filed for bankruptcy. In November of 2024 the management team of the Eindhoven factory along with two of the original Shapeways founders – both of whom have been out of the business for over a decade – joined together to resurrect the company. The new management team has completed the purchase of all available Shapeways IP assets. Unfortunately, all marketplace data was lost in the bankruptcy – we could not acquire it, nor was it available to be acquired. Additionally, the technology that the marketplace ran on was outdated and not scalable. Due to this combination of factors beyond our control, the marketplace cannot be revived as it previously existed. We still believe in the Shapeways Shops concept and are actively pursuing new ways to replace this service for the Shapeways community. This exploration will take time and we humbly ask for your patience on this journey.

We are building a small group of former shopowners to be advisors and a sounding board during this exploration. If you would like to be an active contributor on our journey to define the best solution, please contact us at shopcouncil@shapeways.com.

To learn more about the recent changes at Shapeways and what to expect in this new chapter, see our most recent Press Release. To get to know our new CEO, Marleen Vogelaar, and her vision for Shapeways moving forward, see her letter to our customers and community. If you have specific questions about the marketplace including account data and the status of orders placed before the bankruptcy, refer to our FAQ. For any questions that are not answered in the above documents, please contact us.

Finally, to receive Shapeways announcements via email, please join our mailing list.

The post Shapeways Marketplace Update appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The expanding product line of the California-based aviation company continues to showcase their impressive vision and versatility, fueled by 3D printing. After mastering design and production of autonomous aircraft for agricultural applications like crop-spraying, Pyka transitioned into developing new solutions for middle-mile cargo transport.

Market Demand Required Modifications to Original Pyka Aircraft Designs

Pyka had great success in producing their first electric airplane, the Pelican Spray, and working in other aerial applications. They quickly piqued the interest of cargo-transport companies.

“Market leaders thought our technology would be perfectly suited for what they needed in moving cargo,” said Jason Petersen, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at Pyka. “Supply chain influenced that a bit, but overall, the aviation industry was primed to advance and our electronic aviation technology was the most sophisticated.”

Meeting the needs of new clients meant making changes to existing technology. Pyka spent a year modifying and creating new aircraft that could fly longer distances, hold more cargo, and would also be easy to maintain.

3D Printing Accelerated Product Development & Manufacturing

3D printing played a large role in streamlining those modifications, and has continued to accelerate Pyka’s production development and manufacturing processes. “People are often surprised at how often we use 3D printing in our aircraft,” said Petersen. 

While there are dozens of 3D printed parts on each aircraft, some examples include waterproofed fairings, cases for wires and smaller electronics, latch mounts, and user-interface panels. Pyka reports ease in designing around any problems, without ever having to worry about ‘manufacturability’ of parts in 3D printing.

“Design freedom plays a large role in allowing us to prototype and make changes, strategically placing certain materials where we know added strength is necessary in the aircraft’s geometry,” said Petersen. “With 3D printing, we can create much lighter parts for complex structures, in comparison to injection molding or machining.”

Affordability in prototyping and production is a major advantage as the Pyka team is constantly testing parts and looking for ways to enhance their products, usually revising at least one 3D printed prototype per week. Their design team uploads 3D models to Shapeways quickly, receives instant quotes and printability analysis, and then also has the advantage of referring back to those same digital files for on-demand additive manufacturing.

Advanced 3D Printing Thermoplastics Meet Pyka’s Growing Needs

The autonomous aircraft designers leverage technology like Selective Laser Sintering and Multi Jet Fusion because of the ease in redesigning parts, and maintaining them later. Materials like Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] make it possible to create durable yet flexible parts, while MJF Plastic PA12 provides necessary properties like moisture- and chemical-resistance.

“We’ve experimented with metal 3D printing and other materials like Polypropylene, but I find we always end up going back to the other materials because of their excellent strength properties. We’re used to working with them, the outcome is predictable, and the price point is just hard to beat!” said Petersen.

Access to advanced, durable materials is critical because Pyka uses so many of the 3D printed parts to hold important aircraft components in place–when installing a part requiring complete accuracy on top of a wing, for example–or on a curved area of the aircraft.

Currently, the average Pyka aircraft includes 60-80 3D printed parts. The company’s rapid expansion in agriculture and cargo transport is fueled by their ability to simplify design and production with additive manufacturing, resulting in 11 aircraft built and 45 more planned for deployment in the future.

Read the full case study to learn more about Pyka’s use of additive manufacturing in building their autonomous aircraft.

The post Pyka’s Autonomous Aircraft Soar With 3D Printing Innovation appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The most recent 3D printing use case between Shapeways and 67 Designs involved refining a third-generation product. While the two companies have worked on previous product generations together, 67 Designs believes in constant innovation with no fear in trying new materials and technology. They have worked with 3D printed metal, aluminum alloy, and experimented with other materials too before settling on Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] for its durability. 

Shapeways 3D prints parts for 67 Designs via SLS, a technology the 67 Designs team is drawn to as it allows for high-end designs that are rugged but also elegant. Products like their iPad Tablet Holders can be installed in four-wheelers, eighteen-wheelers, boats, and planes. 

The post Customer Spotlight: 67 Designs appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The rapid prototyping process was a large part of what drew Tilt’s CEO Noah Neibaron to working with Shapeways, bypassing conventional technology in lieu of faster, more affordable processes, along with the ability to evaluate important parts comprehensively. The rapid prototyping process allowed them to adjust and edit parts, redesigning one or more features to perfect both form and functionality–and then going back to the drawing board to test and manufacture all over again.

The Tilt team was also able to experiment with many different types of gravity by calibrating the float to ensure accurate readings and measurements to users through their Bluetooth connection. Neibaron chose Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] for 3D printing the parts, taking advantage of the variety of different colors and finishes available to delineate different part readings. Selective Laser Sintering allowed for expanded freedom in design, along with the ability to produce strong, accurate parts quickly.

“The Shapeways part really helps dial in where that center of gravity is going to be,” said Noah. “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.”

“Shapeways has been a great service and has obviously inspired us to make the product the way it is today,” said Noah.

The post Customer Spotlight: Tilt Hydrometer appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Like most 3D printing industry pioneers, Shapeways is on a mission to provide access to advanced technology, materials, and customization. This includes showcasing 3D printed products on the Shapeways Marketplace, our innovative eCommerce platform created for designers and shopowners to grow their businesses.

ZapWizard operates a shop at the Marketplace, supplying customized parts for popular niches like hardware and multi-use tools. Shapeways 3D prints bit holders for the all-in-one devices using materials like Nylon 12 [Versatile Plastic] and Steel.

Looking for a custom add on for your multi-use tool? Look no further! 

The post Customer Spotlight: ZapWizard appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

If you want to learn how to add finishing touches to your products post-production before shipping to your customers or transform your own 3D printed designs to a more vivacious color you can do so by following a few simple steps. In this tutorial, Steven and Jeremy Gonzalez of The Super Maker Bros demonstrate how to paint eyeglass frames printed in Multi Jet Fusion Plastic PA12 in multiple colors, a process that can be applied to many other projects of the same 3D printed material.

3D printed eyeglass frames in MJF PA12, 220/400/600 grit sandpaper (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

Primers and paints (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

Here is what you will need:

•       3D model printed in Multi Jet Fusion Plastic PA12 (also applicable for Versatile Plastic)
•       220 grit, 400 grit and 600 grit sandpaper
•       Spray paint primer
•       Spray paint in your desired color(s)
•       Clear coat matte or gloss spray paint
•       Reusable drop cloths or newspaper to protect your work area from paint
•       Highly Recommended: A respirator with replaceable filters will not only protect you from spray paint fumes but will last you through many more future paint projects.

Once you have these materials you are ready to get started. Follow the steps below and check out this video to see each step in action. 

Step 1:

Prepare your workspace by placing newspaper or a drop cloth over the area to cover any furniture or floor space in range of your spray painting pattern. Protect enough space to spray from different angles.

Step 2:

Put on your respirator. Spray paint fumes are toxic and sanding generates dust particles that are dangerous to inhale, so make sure you sand and spray in a well ventilated area and wear your respirator.

Step 3:

3D printed eyeglass frames, sanded (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

Start by sanding the glasses pieces to smooth out their surfaces. This will also help the paint adhere to the plastic. Makerbro Tip: The best sandpaper to use is wet/dry or waterproof paper because getting the paper wet helps cool the plastic while sanding as well as keeps small dislodged plastic particles under control. Waterproof sandpaper is black instead of tan or beige.

Begin with a rougher, 220 grit sandpaper to remove any bulky texture and then move on to 400 grit and 600 grit to buff the surface smooth. The lower the number, the rougher the paper is. Be sure to rinse and dry the pieces to remove loose particles.

Makerbro Tip: To give your sandpaper more longevity, apply spray adhesive to the back of your quarter sandpaper sheet and fold it over to make an extra thick one-eighth sheet. This will give you the ability to use more pressure without tearing a hole in the paper.

Step 4:

Prime the frames using a spray primer like the Dupli color filler primer. Spray the glasses using a sweeping motion, keeping the spray can at a distance of about 6 to 12 inches. Spraying too closely will coat the object in too much paint and cause dripping or even cause the coat to crack when dry. Make sure all visible surface area is covered and let the pieces dry before spraying the other side.

Makerbro Tip: Spray paint takes about 30 minutes to dry to touch but wait between 1 to 2 hours to handle it. It will be fully dry after 24 hours.

Step 5:

Once the glasses are primed, sand the surfaces once more using the 600 grit paper to achieve maximum smoothness and wipe away any resulting dust.

Step 6:

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

Using the same spray painting method as with the primer, spray each piece in the color of your choice and let fully dry for 24 hours.

Makerbro Tip: Want to use more than one color on the same piece? Use masking tape to cover parts of your project you want in a different color. Once the first color dries, cover that portion and paint the rest.

Step 7:

Once the glasses have had 24 hours to fully dry, it’s time to seal up the paint with a topcoat. Using the same spray painting method, apply two layers of topcoat, leaving 1 to 2 hours of drying time in between. This helps protect the paint and enhances the shine or matte finish desired. It also gives a buffer between paint and skin contact.

Step 8:

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted in blue and brown (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted in green and red (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

Now assemble the pieces and you’ve got a brand new pair of glasses! You can have a pair in every color.

Check out The Super Maker Bros on Instagram (where they’ll be posting more photos and videos) and YouTube for more fun 3D printed projects.

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

The post How to Paint 3D Printed Eyeglass Frames Your Favorite Color appeared first on Shapeways Blog.