Comments on: Shapeways creates first online market for 3D fabrication models

By: Matthias Koerbl

Matthias Koerbl — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 07:47:43 +0000

The headline reads “Shapeways creates first online market for 3D fabrication models“.

http://www.Rapidobject.com does it Since 2005

http://www.Reality-Service.com (offline) does it Since 2006

http://www.fabidoo.com does it Since 2007

By: Osi

Osi — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:22:04 +0000

hmm.. interesting … interesting

By: Chris Norman

Chris Norman — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:56:43 +0000

In 2005 my Company Digital Reality published a demo of our patent pending concept for consumer-based mass-customization called Made To Order Digital Manufacturing Enterprise. We’re working on a launch sometime this year (delays moved us back) but suffice it to say that we were talking about and working on this idea back in 2004 when http://www.customatix.com that made custom shoes and that same year http://www.3dcontentcentral went live and http://www.vistaprint. In 2006 we watched Zazzle.com launch. The light went on and we filed provisional patents. We’re prosecuting now and if/when awarded, depending on the outcome, Digital Reality will be uniquely positioned to own rights to a great deal of the business model company’s such as Shapeways are creating. By that time, we hope to have our own system running. You will agree it is a much more broad-based concept…after all, we”ve had years to think about it! I hope the guys over at Shapeways and us cane work together instead of against.

By: Shapeways easy fabbing now lets you fab… photos?

Shapeways easy fabbing now lets you fab… photos? — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:30:47 +0000

[...] remember the object fabrication service Shapeways, right? You could take a 3D model from your Blender, Maya, or 3DSM project and turn it into a cool [...]

By: Devin Coldewey

Devin Coldewey — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:52:24 +0000

True enough. The headline is technically inaccurate, but I’d say it’s the first _consumer-oriented_ market. Thanks for the extra info, iggy.

By: Devin Coldewey

Devin Coldewey — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:50:28 +0000

lol@twitter
i’m so with you on that

By: Carolyn Thompson

Carolyn Thompson — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 12:36:56 +0000

Valuable input. I looked up their products here:
http://www.zookfind.com/searchme.php?type=image&query=ponoko

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:19:37 +0000

The header image really caught my attention. Sounds interesting. I’ll check it out.

By: 3D CAD News and Tips | Spencer Rhodes

3D CAD News and Tips | Spencer Rhodes — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:53:42 +0000

[...] Platforms Shapeways creates an online marketplace for 3D printing Interviewing the designers of Herman Miller’s Embody chair — and the nine different CAD [...]

By: iggy

iggy — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:47:28 +0000

Respectfully, you’re mistaken.

Shapeways is different, but I should have been much clearer.

What Protolabs does is a fast turnaround fabrication service based on CNC milled parts or molds. You, as the customer, provide the CAD file, and they’ll do the fabrication. The value-add comes from the short turnaround time, but in all other respects they are not substantially different to any other prototyping/fab shop.

What Shapeways provides is the ability to take existing designs, from their website, customize and then fabricate. They provide designs, and a tool to manipulate that design. Think of it as solid 3D content.

Ally that with 3D printing, which permits the fabrication of objects of significantly more geometric and topological complexity than milling, then you have a fabrication service that is well positioned to address the needs of 3D artists and sculptors.

I don’t disbelieve you, but there’s nothing on ProtoLabs website (and I’ve looked at http://protolabs.com/) to support the notion that they facilitate the ability for their customers to publish and/or share 3D models. That bit, is quite revolutionary.

By: Daily Research » Shared Items - January 7, 2009

Daily Research » Shared Items - January 7, 2009 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:05:23 +0000

[...] Shapeways: first online market for 3D fabrication models [...]

By: It’s all coming together | It's Steve (now in blog form)

It’s all coming together | It's Steve (now in blog form) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:49:56 +0000

[...] you are all stingy and want me to be unhappy). Fortunately, there is hope! Turns out that I can outsource the 3d fabrication part of the process. Ben and I are going to have a lot of Storm Troopers at this [...]

By: Jumpin' Jehosephat

Jumpin' Jehosephat — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:43:24 +0000

Yes, if someone could speak to the comparison with Ponoko, I’d appreciate it. I’ve watched from the sidelines as they’ve struggled (and grown) for a while now, and (a) I don’t know if this kind of service can really be brought to a broad enough audience to make it a successful business, and (b) don’t understand what, if anything, is different between Shapeways and Ponoko. This article is written as though it is the first company to try to do this, or at least the only one trying to do it now, and Ponoko is fairly prominent in this area.

By: joris

joris — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:37:55 +0000

We are going to go live with the Shops on the 8th. We currently have a private closed beta but people that are not in this beta can not see the Shops. Sorry about that.

The URL will be:

http://www.shapeways.com/shops

By: lazysupper

lazysupper — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:37:26 +0000

@iggy
The headline reads “Shapeways creates first online market for 3D fabrication models“. Proto Labs does this.

By: Geeks3D Daily News Round-up (2009.01.06) | The Geeks Of 3D

Geeks3D Daily News Round-up (2009.01.06) | The Geeks Of 3D — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:24:10 +0000

[...] Online Facility: Shapeways creates first online market for 3D fabrication models [...]

By: Otto Othman

Otto Othman — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:29:13 +0000

Its about time that people will be able to “print” their 3d models without having to be super rich…

By: max

max — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:04:04 +0000

Ponoko has been doing it for some time now. They were a TC40 company. Not that they get much traction, though. Neither I expect these ones to be too popular.
A useless gift category.

By: Andreas Jaritz

Andreas Jaritz — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:47:30 +0000

Think you will be proofed right this year Sivam!

By: sivam

sivam — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:44:28 +0000

What shapeways is trying to do is admirable – in making 3D printing accessible to all. Our company http://www.jujups.com is attempting the same and we are aware of the many difficulties that it entails.

Cost and Quality are obstacles – but these will come down. This year we hope to see 3D printing becoming a consumer technology.

Sivam