Farewell @tinkercad we are sad to see you go. #3dprinting #design #cad #software

Nokia Becomes the First Major Manufacturer to Release 3D Printable Files for Their Product

Nokia has become the first major manufacturer to release 3D files so anyone can download and 3D print parts for their own phone.

Nokia have made the rear shell for the Nokia Lumia 820 available to download from their developer site as an STL that can be uploaded and 3D printed by Shapeways or a STEP file that can be opened and parametrically modified by a variety of CAD software such as Solidworks and Inventor.

The Nokia Lumina 820 has a simple clip-on interchangeable back which makes it possible for people to change the color of their phone.  By releasing the CAD file, people can now download and modify the basic design to add any feature they like, be it a functional like a folding stand, bike mount, cable wrap, or something cosmetic like branding, images or patterns.

What makes this really important is that a major manufacturer is making it possible for their customers to add value to their products without any cost to the manufacturer.

We have seen the seeds of the when Teenage Engineering made accessories for their synthesizer available for download and 3D print, but this is the first time one of the big guys has come to the world of 3D printing.

One thing to note is that the 3D file is quite fine, and will not suit all forms of 3D printing. We have uploaded the part to Shapeways and made it available for download. We are also doing some test prints at Shapeways this weekend to ensure printability in Nylon (WSF), but we do not recommend 3D printing components such as this in Acrylic as it may be too brittle and Nokia recommend no steel, ceramic or sandstone parts.

The file may also be challenging for Desktop FDM machines as the wall thickness and direction of the stresses may make this a fragile part.

This is a fantastic first move by Nokia, we asked who would be the first manufacturer to make the move to 3D printing in a previous blog post. Nokia get the prize for being the innovator, now let’s see who follows in their path and if they can raise the bar.

3D Printed Stand for the OP-1 Synthesizer

Pretty Graffiti has designed a 3D Printed Stand for the OP-1 Synthesizer to raise it up and put it on the perfect angle for performance.

Earlier this year the designers of the OP-1, Teenage Engineering released the 3D files for accessories for the synthesizer when they could not find an affordable distribution channel for their international community.  This was the first time we have seen a manufacturer releasing 3D printable files so that their users could 3D print their accessories, either with a desktop 3D printer or via a 3D printing service such as Shapeways.  Now we see Pretty Graffiti may be the first user to carry on the momentum of adding value to the synthesizer, without Teenage Engineering investing in design time or manufacturing.  

GoPro users have already been taking this tack for a while now with around 80 GoPro related products in the Shapeways gallery with everything from 3D Printed GoPro Nerf Mounts to a 3D Printed GoPro Kite Mount.

I am sure this is the very first ripple of a tidal wave of 3D printed products we will see on Shapeways that add value to an existing product with little or no investment by the original manufacturer.  When manufacturers do get on board and start making 3D printed parts available we will see the same speed of innovation and product diversity as we already see happening within the Shapeways community.

Who do you think will be the first manufacturers to really take the opportunity and run with it?  How can we help them to understand it is in their best interest to start releasing accessories to be 3D printed on demand? 

Glowing 3D Printed Architectural Models on Shapeways (VIDEO)

We see many architects 3D printing their models using Shapeways 3D printing service but most of them remain behind the scenes and never make it onto the Shapeways site or blog so it is always cool to see architectural 3D prints in the Shapeways marketplace to share what architects are doing.

but most of them remain behind the scenes and never make it onto the Shapeways site or blog so it is always cool to see architectural 3D prints in the Shapeways marketplace to share what architects are doing.

(via Shapeways)

Autodesk Launch 123D Design for OSX PC iPad & Web

Yes, the free, awesome and easy 3D modeling app 123D has now been extended to 123D Design, available for OSX, PC, iPad AND Web App. That’s four times as fantastic with interoperability between all four and the rest of the 123D suite making it easy for you to design for 3D printing with Shapeways.

With Autodesk 123D Design, anyone can have fun designing and making things. Whether it’s a new design of your own, replacing a part of something you already have, or reimagining something so that it’s just right for you, with 123D Design you can create a digital model of your idea and then directly 3D print or fabricate the things you want, just the way you want them. And the way you work with 123D Design is similar to how you work in other everyday software you’re familiar with, so you can avoid frustrations and enjoy the process of making things.

Design for 3D Printing 101: Intro to Design for 3D Printing

When you are designing for 3D print there are two main factors that you really need to take into account before you start.

1. What application to design with
2. What material you are designing for

In this first introductory session we are going to look at choosing the right type 3D modeling software.

There are now many 3D modeling applications you can use to 3D model your designs to 3D Print, ranging from very expensive professional engineering software, through to free online tools to get you started. Choosing the right software is an important first step in ensuring you can realize your ideas with 3D printing.

Read more on the Shapeways Blog

Design with SimulationXpress (VIDEO)

3DMTP Cloud-Based Service Converts 3D Architectural Files into 3D Printable Models

3DMTP is a cloud-based software service, focused on making 3D architectural models 3D Printable. 3DMTP automatically transforms 3D designs, from BIM, 3D CAD, SketchUp software and other 3D visualization software into scalable and 3D printable model files.  

3DMTP helps overcome the complex challenges sometimes faced in making 3D scaled models printable for architects, developers and designers. The innovation is based on algorithms which study-the geometric structure of the model, identify and AUTOMATICALLY fix problems that would have prevented it from being successfully printed. Sweet.

Once you are ready to turn your design into a 3D printable model, upload your design file and set your parameters: scale, profile, and desired 3D printer. 3DMTP automatically processes the file without any additional operator interface. 3DMTP also fixes holes between polygons and facets, repairs reverse surfaces, changes the thickness of walls to minimum print tolerance for the selected printer, fixes non-volumetric geometry (making objects “watertight”), and fixes many other problems of degenerated geometry that otherwise would prevent the model from printing successfully

Check out some of their 3D Printable architectural models already in their Shapeways shop.

3D Modeler for Hire vs 3D Modeler Needed : Design for 3D Print When You Can’t Design for 3D Print

Many people want to 3D Print their ideas with Shapeways but do not (yet) know how to 3D model their designs. Luckily, at the same time there are thousands of incredibly talented 3D modelers in the Shapeways community, some of whom are offering their 3D modeling services for hire to help those people make their ideas for real with 3D Printing.

We have seen some AMAZING products come to life thanks to these connections made on Shapeways from Siri to shoes (many shoes), trophies for bad sportsmanship, skateboarding elephants, Bronies and Hybride sculptures, whether starting from sketch, fixing an existing model or creative collaboration it is a great way for modelers to stretch their skills and help others 3D print ideas.

If you, as a 3D modeler want to offer your 3D modeling services on the forum post the following details in the forum:  

About me:
Expertise:
Experience:
Portfolio:

Pay Rate:

Note: Please use your own discretion when entering into agreements with other users. Shapeways is not liable for any transactions that take place between users in the forum, we just want to make it easier for you to find each other.

If you have an idea for something you want to 3D Print but do not know how to 3D model, or if you have a 3D model that needs some love to make it 3D printable, you can either post your project in the 3D modeler needed forum or take a look at designers offering 3D modeling services to find the right person to help you out.

Again, Shapeways is not liable for any transactions that take place between users in the forum, we just want to help you get started 3D Printing.

If you want to learn to design for 3D Printing, take a look at our tutorials page, play with one of the easy creators developed by Shapeways and our friends or take a class in the Shapeways Skillshare School…. 

Learn to Design for 3D Printing with Shapeways: More Classes in NYC

If you want to learn to Design for 3D Printing and you are in NYC then we have a range of classes to get you started over the next couple of weeks. Come along and try your hand at making your ideas for real with 3D printing in a relaxed, friendly environment..

Squishy Football 3D-Printing Workshop for Beginners

7:00 pm

Modeling for 3D Printing with Shapeways

Frisbee 3D-Printing Workshop for Beginners

Intro to Design for 3D Printing with Shapeways

Taught by Duann Scott

Wed, Aug 1st, 2012

7:00pm

Shapeways Teaching 3D Printing to the General Assembly

Ok, maybe not the United Nations but General Assembly, one of the coolest Campus and co-working space in New York City. 

3D Modeling Stitch Mesh: The Future of Fabric and Fashion?

Cem Yuksel and his colleagues at Cornell have developed a way of producing Stitch Meshes for 3D Modeling Knitted Clothing with Yarn-level Detail. The top row of images is photographs of actual fabric while the bottom is the 3D modeled fabric.. An amazing level of detail that would look phenomenal if it were to be 3D printed in some kind of flexible, elastic like material….