Shapeways Launches Silver!

[zenix]

In case you do not yet know, www.shapeways.com is a website, one of several, who let you send them 3d CAD files and they'll make those files into real objects using a process called 3D printing. Think of them like kinko's... you dont have nice printer paper, maybe you dont even have a nice printer, but you email kinkos your document and they'll print it out with the settings you choose. But here with shapeways, you can print 3d objects, instead of just images on paper. You can print things in a variety of materials, and today shapeways has launched a new material which they've tried in the past, but now they're making it a permanent addition to their material list.

You can now print real sterling silver objects for as little as $40 shipped anywhere worldwide.

 

[Mechamaniac]

In case you do not yet know, www.shapeways.com is a website, one of several, who let you send them 3d CAD files and they'll make those files into real objects using a process called 3D printing. Think of them like kinko's... you dont have nice printer paper, maybe you dont even have a nice printer, but you email kinkos your document and they'll print it out with the settings you choose. But here with shapeways, you can print 3d objects, instead of just images on paper. You can print things in a variety of materials, and today shapeways has launched a new material which they've tried in the past, but now they're making it a permanent addition to their material list.

You can now print real sterling silver objects for as little as $40 shipped anywhere worldwide.

This blows my mind. I have access to an standard resin type SLA machine and have seen it at work and it's nifty to behold but I don't get how they can do it with metals and stone.

 

[zenix]

Well your SLA machine works by using a UV laser to cure resin, layer by layer.

The steel printing machine works sort of like an inkjet printer that squirts out glue instead of ink, and can move in two directions, instead of just back and forth. It squirts down glue on metal powder, which is put down layer by layer as well. After it's glued, the parts are put in the oven and heated up, and the glue goes away, and another metal with a lower melting point gets sucked up inbetweent he spaces of the steel powder, where the glue was. This hardens and cools and gets polished a bit and there you go.

Silver is done with a lost wax process. They 3d print the wax, melting it and depositing it up layer by layer. Then the wax gets put into plaster, and the plaster hardens, is heated, and the wax melts away. Silver is then heated and poured into the plaster, making it the same shape as your original cad design.

There are more ways to digitally make things too! These are just some of the processes available.

In the past, these machines were solely used for making prototypes of things quickly.
Currrently 20% of parts produced by digital machines are finished parts. This will only increase as more products are designed, more machines are available, and YOU tell people about 3D printing.

 

[Gunplameister]

very interesting, thanks for the info. ill have to investigate tonite when i get home as to size limit.

 

[Wolfdagon]

Sounds interesting. I would like to see some samples to see how smooth it is before polishing. I ordered a few stainless steel pieces from them and was less than happy with the texture. Some of the pieces that I have seen printed there didn't seem so bad, but the texteure on mine was just awful. And it was much worse in some areas than others.

 

[Risu]

Yea, if its lost wax it makes me really curious if the pieces come out smooth.

 

[zenix]

They come out pretty smooth, but you can pay an extra ten dollars for super polishing.

The stainless steel is bumpy because of the process, but it does polish up quite well if you sand or dremel it. I've gotten a mirror shine on some of my parts with not much effort.

The size probably isn't your limiting factor... it's your wallet =)

Depending on the material, size limites vary. For silver, just think bracelets and rings.

$40 minimum, $40 for the first cubic centimeter, and $20 for each additional. There are pictures on the site.

 

[Risu]

The one piece I've got (the vortex manipulator face plate) in steel took HOURS to get somewhat smooth with 120 grit sandpaper, I still haven't polished it yet.

 

[Bimmer]

Here is a link to their album of silver rings they printed. 2 in the smooth silver and 2 in the standard silver.

Picasa Web Albums - Vclav Mazan - Jewellery

If i had more money to spend, i would be investing a lot of it in Shapeways products. There are some seriously cool things there. If only it were a little more economical to print larger pieces it'd be an even incredible resource.