Comments on: Shapeways 3D printing by Internet: 500 free beta signups http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 18 May 2013 17:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: csmlm http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242184 csmlm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242184 Should be Philips not Phillips Should be Philips not Phillips

]]> By: nanoquimico http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242957 nanoquimico Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242957 Since they charge per unit volume, but shapes can be as complex as desired, there's an incentive of making funcitonal parts lightweight and strong, i.e. (made of connected struts, like an eiffel tower) Since they charge per unit volume, but shapes can be as complex as desired, there’s an incentive of making funcitonal parts lightweight and strong, i.e. (made of connected struts, like an eiffel tower)

]]> By: Doug Nelson http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242198 Doug Nelson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242198 Unless they're doing the fabrications for free, BB is passing out 500 brochures for this service (and one huge advertisement that didn't cost them a penny). Unless they’re doing the fabrications for free, BB is passing out 500 brochures for this service (and one huge advertisement that didn’t cost them a penny).

]]> By: AGF http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242205 AGF Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242205 want! want!

]]> By: eustace http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242209 eustace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242209 Bah! I don't want the service - I want the 3D printer. I really gotta build a reprap. Bah! I don’t want the service – I want the 3D printer. I really gotta build a reprap.

]]> By: noen http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242216 noen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242216 I'm signed up and yes, the actual 3D print is not free. Do the Boingers have something they'd like printed? I’m signed up and yes, the actual 3D print is not free. Do the Boingers have something they’d like printed?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242217 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242217 Neato. :] Neato. :]

]]> By: Hel http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242222 Hel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242222 Looks like all 500 are used, I tried to sign up and got 'thanks for your interest, we're inviting new people every week!' Looks like all 500 are used, I tried to sign up and got ‘thanks for your interest, we’re inviting new people every week!’

]]> By: neftaly http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242237 neftaly Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242237 @Noen: Ask them if they can print self-replicating printers :D @Noen: Ask them if they can print self-replicating printers :D

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242496 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242496 Is that a Golden Calf? Uh oh. Is that a Golden Calf? Uh oh.

]]> By: Fee http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242497 Fee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242497 The accounts are free... the printing is roughly $3 per cubic centimetre.... The accounts are free… the printing is roughly $3 per cubic centimetre….

]]> By: jochem http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242243 jochem Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242243 did you see their film on Youtube? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQoTro9WfbQ did you see their film on Youtube?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQoTro9WfbQ

]]> By: insect_hooves http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242244 insect_hooves Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242244 Dennis Hastert action figure, here I come! Dennis Hastert action figure, here I come!

]]> By: JDspeeder1 http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-243296 JDspeeder1 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-243296 Is that Mooby? Is that Mooby?

]]> By: jorisshapeways http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-249955 jorisshapeways Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-249955 Randwolf, I'm so sorry to hear that your experience with Shapeways did not live up to your expectations. From your story I can see that it also did not live up to the expectations and standards that we have set for ourselves. I know you asked us not to follow up, but we are anxious to improve the site wherever we can so if you could just send me an email confirming your Shapeways user name, then we could look deeper into what could have gone wrong and improve Shapeways for other designers. My email address is joris (at) shapeways (dot) com. We're especially puzzled that the email you quoted did not have Bart's(a colleague's) email address at the bottom of it. In response to your post we have manually checked all our automated email templates and the logs of the emails that went out in order to resolve the issue. Thank you for telling us that our contact information is hard to find on the site. We've added this to the list of site improvements that we will make in the post-private-beta version of the site. The original bug that affected you was a temporary error that occurred when the servers of our processing queue were under strain from a lot of simultaneous uploads of models. We have since corrected the issue and will be making our architecture more robust in the future. You should have received a timely notification about this problem from us. Our sincere apologies. I hope that you accept my apology on behalf of our team and that in time you might once again try out Shapeways. Joris Randwolf,

I’m so sorry to hear that your experience with Shapeways did not live up to your expectations. From your story I can see that it also did not live up to the expectations and standards that we have set for ourselves.

I know you asked us not to follow up, but we are anxious to improve the site wherever we can so if you could just send me an email confirming your Shapeways user name, then we could look deeper into what could have gone wrong and improve Shapeways for other designers. My email address is joris (at) shapeways (dot) com.

We’re especially puzzled that the email you quoted did not have Bart’s(a colleague’s) email address at the bottom of it. In response to your post we have manually checked all our automated email templates and the logs of the emails that went out in order to resolve the issue.

Thank you for telling us that our contact information is hard to find on the site. We’ve added this to the list of site improvements that we will make in the post-private-beta version of the site.

The original bug that affected you was a temporary error that occurred when the servers of our processing queue were under strain from a lot of simultaneous uploads of models. We have since corrected the issue and will be making our architecture more robust in the future. You should have received a timely notification about this problem from us. Our sincere apologies.

I hope that you accept my apology on behalf of our team and that in time you might once again try out Shapeways.

Joris

]]> By: Mister N http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242544 Mister N Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242544 I want in! I want in!

]]> By: eustace http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242291 eustace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242291 Great video Jochem! They really were smart to use the cube puzzle to illustrate the printer's capabilities, and their own design expertise. The close fit of the assembled cube demonstrates how tight the tolerances are that they are holding; and the layed-out form in which it was printed (as separate pieces) was clever too - the tallest point that the printer had to reach was two cubes high. This saves a lot of time on a machine that quickly draws in the flat x and y axes, but only slowly steps upward, and this illustrates a design principle for people making 3D parts - if you can keep it flat, then assemble it tall, you can make your parts less expensively because you use less machine time. I used a 3D printing firm two years ago to print aerodynamic shapes that we (our company) couldn't visualize well using our design software. Much more expensive two years ago than today! Great video Jochem! They really were smart to use the cube puzzle to illustrate the printer’s capabilities, and their own design expertise. The close fit of the assembled cube demonstrates how tight the tolerances are that they are holding; and the layed-out form in which it was printed (as separate pieces) was clever too – the tallest point that the printer had to reach was two cubes high. This saves a lot of time on a machine that quickly draws in the flat x and y axes, but only slowly steps upward, and this illustrates a design principle for people making 3D parts – if you can keep it flat, then assemble it tall, you can make your parts less expensively because you use less machine time.
I used a 3D printing firm two years ago to print aerodynamic shapes that we (our company) couldn’t visualize well using our design software. Much more expensive two years ago than today!

]]> By: macegr http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242548 macegr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242548 I signed in and surfed around in there...looks pretty decent, I'd let my friends know about it if they needed something convenient. But they have the same 3D printer at TechShop, and I can get models for $25 per cubic inch (1/2 to 5/6 the price, depending on material) with no setup fee and a couple days turnaround. So ShapeWays doesn't make sense for me, but for most people I think it's a good setup. I signed in and surfed around in there…looks pretty decent, I’d let my friends know about it if they needed something convenient. But they have the same 3D printer at TechShop, and I can get models for $25 per cubic inch (1/2 to 5/6 the price, depending on material) with no setup fee and a couple days turnaround. So ShapeWays doesn’t make sense for me, but for most people I think it’s a good setup.

]]> By: MarkHB http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242295 MarkHB Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242295 I love the smell of printcrime in the morning ;) I love the smell of printcrime in the morning ;)

]]> By: gargoylemt http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242571 gargoylemt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242571 Since it is associated with Philips, I was hoping for some new rapid prototyping technology. Instead it is ObJet, Dimension, and SLS machines. That is a good blend of machines/technologies, but it's nothing new. Since it is associated with Philips, I was hoping for some new rapid prototyping technology. Instead it is ObJet, Dimension, and SLS machines. That is a good blend of machines/technologies, but it’s nothing new.

]]> By: randwolf http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-244881 randwolf Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-244881 "We found some problems in your model '***' that we may be able to fix for you. Depending on the complexity of the design, this extra correction can take up to a few hours. When we're done, you will receive another email notification." That was two days ago. There is no telephone number on their site, so I couldn't call them; there isn't even a contact e-mail for delays. (And, Shapeways, if you're reading, I went with a different vendor, so please don't follow up.) BTW, for people interested in these technologies, I highly recommend Castle Island's excellent <a href="http://home.att.net/~castleisland/home.htm" rel="nofollow">page</a> “We found some problems in your model ‘***’ that we may be able to fix for you. Depending on the complexity of the design, this extra correction can take up to a few hours. When we’re done, you will receive another email notification.” That was two days ago. There is no telephone number on their site, so I couldn’t call them; there isn’t even a contact e-mail for delays. (And, Shapeways, if you’re reading, I went with a different vendor, so please don’t follow up.)

BTW, for people interested in these technologies, I highly recommend Castle Island’s excellent page

]]> By: Psymiley http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242324 Psymiley Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242324 @#13 Does it smell of cling-film-in-a-microwave? :3 @#13

Does it smell of cling-film-in-a-microwave?
:3

]]> By: ridestowe http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-243113 ridestowe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-243113 oh my this would be so cool to get into! I wanna print so many models I've made now! did anyone sign up for it and not plan on using it much? I'd love to get into it! oh my this would be so cool to get into! I wanna print so many models I’ve made now! did anyone sign up for it and not plan on using it much? I’d love to get into it!

]]> By: artfreakydude http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-244650 artfreakydude Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-244650 it might be worth it...will check it out later...thank you it might be worth it…will check it out later…thank you

]]> By: nanoquimico http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242604 nanoquimico Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242604 Alpha prototypes offers a similar service starting at about at $50 per cubic inche. ($149 per 3 cubic inches.) As MACEGR noted there are even cheaper ones. I would suggest to shop around. The processes and materials vary as well. Alpha prototypes offers a similar service starting at about at $50 per cubic inche. ($149 per 3 cubic inches.) As MACEGR noted there are even cheaper ones. I would suggest to shop around. The processes and materials vary as well.

]]> By: nanoquimico http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242607 nanoquimico Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242607 In the same vein there's another service called emachineshop, where you can design parts using a simplified CAD tool they provide and they machine them for you. They do CNC milling, laser cutting etc. In the same vein there’s another service called emachineshop, where you can design parts using a simplified CAD tool they provide and they machine them for you. They do CNC milling, laser cutting etc.

]]> By: pugsdawn http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242354 pugsdawn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242354 @Noen: I have stuff that I would like to get printed. Hopefully they'll allow more people in soon. @Noen:

I have stuff that I would like to get printed. Hopefully they’ll allow more people in soon.

]]> By: chroma http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242375 chroma Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242375 In a similar vein, Big Blue Saw is having Free Part Day on August 6: http://www.bigbluesaw.com/saw/big-blue-saw-blog/general-updates/free-part-day-august-6.html In a similar vein, Big Blue Saw is having Free Part Day on August 6:
http://www.bigbluesaw.com/saw/big-blue-saw-blog/general-updates/free-part-day-august-6.html

]]> By: jphil http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-243656 jphil Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-243656 Beta me, please! Beta me, please!

]]> By: Ernunnos http://boingboing.net/2008/07/23/shapeways-3d-printin.html#comment-242380 Ernunnos Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-242380 Can somebody print me up a Gömböc? Can somebody print me up a Gömböc?

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