{"id":15885,"date":"2013-10-05T08:10:42","date_gmt":"2013-10-05T15:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.web-strategist.com\/blog\/?p=15885"},"modified":"2013-10-07T09:24:16","modified_gmt":"2013-10-07T16:24:16","slug":"shapeways-delivers-3d-printing-as-a-service-reshaping-business-processes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web-strategist.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/05\/shapeways-delivers-3d-printing-as-a-service-reshaping-business-processes\/","title":{"rendered":"Shapeways Delivers 3D Printing as a Service, Reshaping Business Processes"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n\"Shapeways\"<\/a>
\nAn assortment of 3D printed items, accompanied by Duann Scott (left), myself (center), and Savannah, (right) at the Shapeways 3D “Factory of the Future” in Queens, NYC. Behind us are rows of high-end 3D printers, polishing machines, designers, QA teams, and operations experts.<\/center> <\/p>\n

Trying to configure, calibrate, and properly print a 3D object is a clunky experience. Fortunately, there are services that enable this: Meet\u00a0Shapeways<\/a>, a 3D factory available now for you.<\/p>\n

In my humble opinion,\u00a0I’ve found that 3D printers for consumers need some time to mature<\/a>. \u00a0I’ve taken a class at TechShop to learn that the level of skill requires a hobbyist and tinkering capability. It’s not just “Press print.” \u00a0To meet this need, and to print using high quality materials, Shapeways offers 3D printing services on demand, and ships your products to you.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tour Shapeways “Factory of the Future” in Queens, NY, and got to see first-hand how they do this. \u00a0They offer a variety of designers and artisans, who can custom design your products, or tools that enable you to customize existing products. Truly, the possibilities are limitless. \u00a0With the capability to print in 35 different materials (and new ones coming), Shapeways has high-end, professional grade, 3D printers that can print in color, acrylic, and also polish and dye process to color your products.<\/p>\n

The impacts to business are potentially tremendous. \u00a0One can print personalized goods for your own style. \u00a0Items can be printed on-demand and delivered to you within days. \u00a0They can also be printed at scale and replicated quickly by printing an entire batch. \u00a0These resources aren’t limited to consumers alone. \u00a0Progressive companies like Nokia have made their STL 3D printing files available to the 3D printing community, encouraging them to print out their own cases.<\/p>\n

The potential impacts for business are quite significant:<\/strong><\/p>\n