Shapeways 3D Printspiration

Shapeways and 3D Printing in USA Today

3D printing is featured at a newsstand near you thanks to Roger Yu of USA Today.  In the feature More design hobbyists, entrepreneurs use 3-D printing a brief overview is given about the current state of 3D printing with mention of Shapeways community member Jeff Bare alongside other ‘consumer facing’ 3D printers.

“Entrepreneurs with limited resources, such as designer Jeff Bare, are increasingly using online service companies such as Shapeways, which prints uploaded designs and lets members open virtual stores on the site where they pay a fee for each item they sell.

Bare, a furniture designer by day, began designing a cover for the iPad three months before it was introduced in April 2010. With an estimate of iPad dimensions, he printed a prototype. After making adjustments, he was ready to sell his covers when iPad was launched. The first cover, made of polyimide (nylon-based plastic), sold a month later for $30.

Bare is one of 120,000 users of Shapeways, based in New York. Shapeways printed 750,000 products last year, ranging from jewelry (a popular category) to phone accessories. “In China, you have to order thousands. (Here), you can order one or two,” says Shapeways CEO Peter Weijmarshausen. “The risk of doing business goes down to absolutely zero.”