This is indeed an issue for the emerging 3D print services: people want to make things, but few are experienced 3D modelers capable of designing anything, let alone something terrific. Some companies have gone about solving this problem by having a wide selection of different professionally designed items, such as Ponoko or more recently Shapeways.… Continue reading So You Aren’t A 3D Modeler?
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An Invitation to Shapeways
Shapeways is a 3D printing service we’ve talked about before. We’ve covered many print services in the past, and the reality is that they are all operations focused around a fleet of 3D printers that must be kept busy. So what’s the difference between them? We think it’s the choice of audience and… Continue reading An Invitation to Shapeways
Tiny 3D Trains
An intriguing discussion is taking place on Trainboard.com, a place for model railway engineers to discuss, well, model trains! User ppuinn asks, “Has anyone used 3D printers to make structures for their model railroad?” We think that is an excellent question, since railway engineers will have need for all manner of small plastic building items,… Continue reading Tiny 3D Trains
EMP 3D Print Services
Another 3D print service: EMP Designs. Like most service bureaus, this UK-based company accepts .STL files and produces the requisite output. No instant quotes here, though. Via EmpDesigns
Instant Quotes… and A Lot More
Stratasys continues reaching into the market with innovative moves. Today we learned of another rather interesting angle: Instant Quotes. As readers may recall, Stratasys is the company behind the renowned Dimension series of 3D printers. Their service unit, Redeye RPM is now partnering with Alibre (makers of the Alibre Design 3D CAD software) to offer… Continue reading Instant Quotes… and A Lot More
An Ideal Service?
Perhaps, but that’s what they are really called: Ideal. Actually Ideal is first and foremost a reseller of a very wide array of 2D scanners, but it appears they’re branching into the 3D printing as a service offering. We believe they are addressing peripheral needs of their existing industrial client base, as they do not… Continue reading An Ideal Service?
Alternative to TechShop?
TechShop is a very popular service for skilled manufacturing hobbyists who just don’t have the space or funds to own their own 21st century fabbing equipment. TechShop addresses their needs by planting multiple well-equipped shops in various cities. But are they the only option? Fabbaloo has identified a potential competitor: eMachineShop. Well, not exactly.… Continue reading Alternative to TechShop?
Shapeways Taking Shape
We caught a brief mention of a new 3D service start-up company: Shapeways. While they are not yet open to the public, they are soliciting for beta signups. (Yes, we’ve applied!) We can’t yet see how their system works yet, but indications show a fairly straightforward process: make your own model; export; upload to Shapeways;… Continue reading Shapeways Taking Shape
Fabidoo Heads West
The German-based Fabidoo consumer oriented manufacturing service is now available worldwide! Previously focused on the German market, the service now provides English web pages suitable for use in USA, Canada, UK and other major markets. We’ve written about Fabidoo before: they provide a very easy to use service for custom made figurines. For those with no 3D… Continue reading Fabidoo Heads West
Proto Technologies Service
Today’s 3D print service is Proto Technologies, Inc., of Washington State. Their claim to fame is that customers can access a multi-material capable Object Connex 500 3D printer. Readers may recall this amazing device has two media hoppers that can hold completely different build materials, enabling one-step printing of objects having hard and soft… Continue reading Proto Technologies Service
Land Printing
Yet another niche 3D printing service: LandPrint.com, who can “create a 3D model of Any Place on Earth!” To use the system, you must download a special software program (LandPrint Designer) that looks a heck of a lot like Google Earth (but isn’t). Then you browse “the Earth” to identify the location you want… Continue reading Land Printing
Prism Engineering Training & Support
You just can’t pick up an advanced 3D Modeling tool like SolidWorks or others and expect to be productive immediately. However, you can get training. One company offering training on a variety of CAD/CAM products is Prism Engineering of Pennsylvania. Their team of engineers, techs and trainers provide support and training on not only… Continue reading Prism Engineering Training & Support
Sotopia Concepts
Today’s 3D print service discovery is a bit unusual: Sotopia Concepts provides not only 3D printing services as do many other shops, but instead focuses on the creative aspects. According to their website, they: develop new design and communication concepts to get back in contact with your customers. And this involves the development of… Continue reading Sotopia Concepts
Sigma Design Service
Yet another 3D Rapid Prototyping Service has been detected: Sigma Designs. This New Jersey-based engineering firm appears to specialize in engineering design and consultation, but also offers a rapid prototyping service. According to their website, they can: Take your geometry and produce prototypes Design new geometry and produce prototypes Develop and manufacture prototype devices,… Continue reading Sigma Design Service
Another Service Materialises
Another addition to our growing list of 3D fabbing services: Materialise. Belgian-based Materialise falls into the “professional” category, as they focus on delivering rapid prototypes to engineers and designers. A large, 500 person operation, Materialise has four divisions and provides not only fabbing services, but also is “a major player in medical and dental image… Continue reading Another Service Materialises
3DArtToPart
Another specialized 3D print service is open for business. This time it’s 3DArtToPart.com, a artist-oriented service that specializes in printing small works of art. In reality, they appear to be able to accept any 3D model in any of these formats: .obj, .3ds, .lwo, .stl, .dxf, .c4d. and SolidWorks files, in spite of the preponderance… Continue reading 3DArtToPart
3DScanCo
We haven’t previously posted on 3D scanning services, but we found one. Atlanta-based 3DScanCo provides industrial-quality scanning and modeling services. This highly capable company uses a wide variety of scanning technologies, including: 3D Laser Scanning, White Light Scanning, Photogrammetry, Machine Vision, Coordinate Measuring Machines, 3D CT / MRI Scanning, Theodolite, Trackers and something called “Destructive… Continue reading 3DScanCo
3D Print Services Summary, 1Q08
We’ve identified many 3D printing services in previous posts. Today we’ll put them all together and classify them as per our prior post on the two types of services. Traditional (General industrial-quality and for professional usage)ProtoCAMMetropolitanWorksEnvizageAlphaPrototypesTangible Express QuickARC RedEye RPMMuur LabsTangerås Verksted & StøperiTech Workshop Sweet Onion Creations ConsumerFigurePrints (WarCraft avatars)Cosmic Modelz (3D Toy Modeling)… Continue reading 3D Print Services Summary, 1Q08
Zapped by ZapFab!
A tipster put us onto a new 3D print service: ZapFab. This Manchester, UK-based business is a bit different than your run-of-the-mill “send us your 3D file and we’ll print it” operation. They offer not only the printing process, but also have a highly usable user-generated library of pre-made designs of various types. Fabbaloo readers… Continue reading Zapped by ZapFab!
RedEye RPM Goes Down Under
We’ve posted on RedEye RPM before; they are the service bureau arm of Stratasys, who manufacture various types of 3D print gear. This announcement ensures strong access to 3D print services for those in Australia and surrounding regions. Details about the service can be found here. Via BusinessWire.com
RedEye RPM Adds Modeling
RedEye RPM, the service unit of Stratasys, announces the availability of an architectural modeling service. According to their website, RedEyeArc says: RedEye ARC is your solution to fast turnaround, high quality, 3D plastic models that bring your blueprints to life. We use innovative 3D printing technology to build architectural models that will exceed your expectations… Continue reading RedEye RPM Adds Modeling
1,000 TechShops?
We’ve posted about TechShop before, but at a recent meetup in Portland, Oregon, visitors learned about TechShop’s plans for opening a new shop in that area. While the discussion is a bit clipped, there are tons of details about TechShop operating procedures, equipment and future plans. One ominous nugget said: the COO is from Kinko’s… Continue reading 1,000 TechShops?
ProtoCAM Service
According to their website, ProtoCAM is the: largest rapid prototyping bureau in the Eastern United States, providing a unique blend of manufacturing engineering / rapid prototyping consulting along with stereolithography and other advanced rapid prototyping techniques. While they do not provide instant online quotes, they do accept a large variety of CAD formats, including… Continue reading ProtoCAM Service
Two More 3D Print Services
This week we uncovered two more 3D print services: Metropolitan Works – Their Digital Manufacturing Centre is the UK’s “largest resource of new technology for rapid prototyping, manufacture, research and experimentation”. Envizage – an Australian-based company providing a wide variety of rapid prototyping services, including not only 3D printing, but also selective laser sintering, stereolithography,… Continue reading Two More 3D Print Services
.STL ?
Frequently we’ve mentioned the use of .STL files when describing 3D printing services. But what are they, exactly? .STL is a computer file format, specifically designed to capture a three-dimensional model of an object. This kind of file format is frequently accepted by 3D print services as a way for you to tell them precisely… Continue reading .STL ?
AlphaPrototypes Service
We’ve uncovered yet another Rapid Prototyping 3D Print service: AlphaPrototypes. This west coast USA-based firm provides a simple way to upload your .STL files and print high-quality 3D objects, shipped to you “in about 24 hours.” While they don’t identify the specific 3D printer being used, it is a ZCorp model – the favorite among… Continue reading AlphaPrototypes Service
DesktopFactory LOSES Innovator of the Year Award
Our favorite yet-to-be-seen device, the low-cost DesktopFactory 125ci 3D printer has lost out to Tangible Express as the recipient of the first annual “Rapid” Innovator of year award, as determined by the Low Volume Manufacturers Association. Who is Tangible Express? They are a 3D fabrication service, like many others. However, previous posts in Fabbaloo typically… Continue reading DesktopFactory LOSES Innovator of the Year Award
Not Quite a 3D Library
Over at the Adobe Design Center Think Tank, Allan Chochinov posts an interesting analysis of “fictional products” from the design point of view. Fictional products are those which don’t actually exist but parallel existing products. Consider a speculative version of a future iPod, for example. Chochinov points us to online services where designers of such… Continue reading Not Quite a 3D Library
QuickQuote by QuickARCProvides Quick Quotes
Unlike many 3D Printing services, QuickARC has a new online facility for generating quotes for printing complex 3D objects. Typically, this particular service would be used by Architects or Builders for developing building models (as is shown in their website’s header). QuickARC has the ability to accept 3D models in two modes: Architect’s Zone… Continue reading QuickQuote by QuickARCProvides Quick Quotes
More on FigurePrints
There’s been quite a buzz around the net regarding the newly opened FigurePrints service, which prints 3D replicas of World of Warcraft characters. We’ve seen many articles, but most simply mention it briefly. Meanwhile, WowInsider posts a complete interview with FigurePrints founder Ed Fries. As a long-time WoW player (since it was Beta!) and tech-whiz,… Continue reading More on FigurePrints
Cosmic Modelz
The rash of 3D services continues. This time it’s Cosmic Modelz, which appears to use Z Corp printers to produce “one-of-a-kind collectibles” from your own artwork. While not open yet, it remains to be seen if they can compete with JuJups or some of the other 3D print services. Via Cosmic Modelz
3D Printer Found in Department Store!
Yes, this is real! A Make Magazine reader posted pictures and description of this Dimension printer found at Toronto’s Umbra Concept Store. Evidently visitors can drop by to see the printer creating objects for Umbra’s designers – who are occasionally present to answer questions. I’m not sure how successful this concept would be for drop-in… Continue reading 3D Printer Found in Department Store!
“Will 3D Printing Finally Go Mainstream?”
Apparently so – this article appears twice: once in C|NET and again in FrogDesign. Tim Lebrecht, Director of Marketing for frog design (frog is most famous for designing many Apple products) postulates that the emergence of several 3D printing services, such as Jujups and Cosmic Modelz is a result of recent price-shattering devices such as… Continue reading “Will 3D Printing Finally Go Mainstream?”
More 3D Figurine Services
There seems to be a sudden outbreak of services for printing 3D figures lately. Fabjectory has been around for a while, but the blogosphere was lit up on Figureprints just a few days ago. Now I find another one: a German service called “Fabidoo”. No English on their site, but thanks to the miracle of… Continue reading More 3D Figurine Services
RedEye Goes European
RedEye RPM is opening a new “European rapid prototyping and direct digital manufacturing center in Leuven, Belgium.” RedEye is a sub of Stratasys, which produces high-end 3D printing equipment. RedEye provides 3D printing services to engineering firms and manufacturers for low-volume runs, presumably using current Stratasys hardware – possibly including that new FDM 900mc device.… Continue reading RedEye Goes European
Jujups Launches
Jujups.com is a new 3D printing service that has launched before the holiday season – and just in time, since their main product is Christmas-themed picture frames. Sign in to their service and you can design the frame yourself, or let them provide a design automatically. The price: USD$29.95 Jujups uses a Z-Corp printer, capable… Continue reading Jujups Launches
World of Warcraft Figure Printing
First Fabjectory, now Figureprints.com. The former can print your Second Life avatar or Mii; the latter can print your WoW character in 3D. Well, they can after December 11th, if I read that sign correctly. We’re not sure what printer is being used by Figureprints, but they say: “Using 3D modeling techniques pioneered by special… Continue reading World of Warcraft Figure Printing
Muur Labs 3D Printing Service
Yet another 3D printing service has appeared. Muur Lab offers: a new service to produce real-world models of buildings, medical models and 3D scanned objects It’s not clear precisely what technology Muur is using, but we might speculate based on this comment: Each layer is then ‘printed’ by spreading a sub millimeter thin layer… Continue reading Muur Labs 3D Printing Service
Low Cost 3D Print Service
Using three ThermoJet 3D printers, John Tangerås’ company, Tangerås Verksted & Støperi of Norway, will offer a 3D printing service beginning in January 2008. The print fee will be €25 plus €200 per litre of raw material consumed. Maximum size of the printed objects is 250mm X by 190mm Y by 200mm Z. Pictured is… Continue reading Low Cost 3D Print Service
Real Objects from Virtual Designs
Most of us don’t have access to personal fabs yet, so in the interim you must use services. The good news is that there are several available. One interesting service is Fabjectory, which uses 3D Printing technology to produce real artifacts from virtual designs. That means you can send them your SketchUp designs and have… Continue reading Real Objects from Virtual Designs
TechShop Workshop
Techshop is a California-based chain of public machine workshops. They provide access to equipment that otherwise would be impossible for home-based hobbyists. Among the specialized equipment they offer is a Dimension 3D Printer. Here’s their own overview: The TechShop workshop provides a wide variety of machinery and tools for the open and unlimited use of… Continue reading TechShop Workshop
Sweet Architecture Designs
Sweet Onion Creations has announced a service for architects and engineers where 3D model can be submitted for 3D production. The service seems to be geared for models of “Anything from a private home to entire city layouts”. SOC’s approach is to target the architectural niche, while other 3D printing services address more general needs.… Continue reading Sweet Architecture Designs