Create 3d objects from your drawings with webservice (we have invites)
Written on July 22, 2008 – 5:24 pm
Joop Dorresteijn, Contributing editor
We have seen online services for T-shirts, mousepads and tea. Techcrunch pointed us to a new Dutch webservice that can create 3d sculptures, the service understands various forms of CAD drawings, “print” them in 3d, and ships them globally within ten working days. Ever wanted to create advanced objects yourself, organizing an event and looking for cool custom awards? Now it’s possible!
How it works
Shapeway offers an online service with a community, users can find drawings and upload their own. After the user selects a model, the online service verifie if the model can be made, and provides a realtime cost estimation. Shapeways will tweak and print the model, and packs and ships it globally within 10 working days. The average cost of an 3d object is $50 - $150, objects are created one by one, so there is no “batch discount”. On the other hand, the service is cheap and costs per object might leave the creativity to create variations for your production.
Technical developments
Jochem de Boer explained to thenextweb that the techniques on 3d modeling are developing very quick. The materials that Shapeways used are particularity useful for product designers. At this moment, there are four kinds of plastics to choose from, other materials including metal are planned.
The fun thing is that Shapeways can create models from all CAD drawings. Currently, you create your own 3d model and export it to industry standard files as STL, Collada or X3d. Around fall 2008, Shapeways is announcing easier ways to produce 3d objects.
Joris Peels (left) Jochem de Boer (right)Company
The startup is located at the Philips Incubator programme in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Shapeways currently employes 10 people, with CEO Peter Weijmarshausen, CMO Jochem de Boer and Joris Peels as Commuinity manager.
Try it out for yourself
The site is in private beta, but plans to release in a couple of months. Shapeways gives invites to the first 100 thenextweb readers that sign up, visit the signup page, and enter “thenextweb” in the coupon field.
I hope you like that post!
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The Next Web Blog is closely associated with The Next Web Conference which is held annually in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. At this event speakers from all over the world come together to talk about, and show of, the future of the Web. (
By Tonci on Jul 22, 2008
helaas: “* The coupon code and/or your E-mail address is incorrect.”
Overigens is in het filmpje Blender gebruikt, wordt dat niet ondersteunt…?? (– gevonden: “There are now two ways to get your design from Blender into Shapeways: either by exporting as X3D or as STL.”)
[Reply]
By Joop Dorresteijn on Jul 23, 2008
Hey Tonci thank you for your response, it should work by now!
[Reply]
By jochem on Jul 23, 2008
Hi Tonci,
In het Shapeways filmpje wordt inderdaad Blender gebruikt. Sinds de Blender 2.46 update met de vernieuwde X3D exporter sluit Blender prima aan op Shapeways. Voor meer details, zie onderstaande link.
http://www.shapeways.com/blog/.....to-Go.html
[Reply]
By Marc on Jul 24, 2008
Also take a look at fabidoo ( http://www.fabidoo.com ) who offer 3D printing for the masses. They have nice community features like weekly design contests, a simple to use editor and high quality 3D-printouts.
Cheers Marc
[Reply]