Shapeways Reviews

Shapeways.com offers a 3D printing service where the cost is determined by various factors. The software calculates the price per material, volume, bounding box, capacity, labor and factory cost, and then gives a price in each available material. For large orders, there's an option to find out if one qualifies for bulk pricing.

There's also a feature to save costs with 3D printing. This involves planning and optimizing 3D models before uploading, which saves time, expense, and headaches. Attention to the geometry overall, wall thickness, orientation, texture, fine details like engraving in 3D printed metal products like jewelry, and compatibility between materials and technology are key factors.

For customers working with a set of product requirements for 3D printed parts, a one-on-one consultation with the UA Team could help them cross the final hurdle to start scaling their manufacturing.

As an example, the cost for an iPhone case was $14.44, an owl print was $29.99, and shipping was $6.59. However, these prices are from 2014 and may have changed. Please note that the actual cost can vary based on the specifics of the 3D model and the chosen material..

Shapeways.com is a leading 3D printing service and marketplace. It offers a wide range of services including 3D file design and optimization, rapid prototyping, and e-commerce integrations. The platform supports cutting-edge technologies such as BASF | Forward AM Technology, HP Multi-Jet Fusion, EOS Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and ExOne Binder Jetting. These technologies allow the creation of high-quality products in over 90 materials and finishes, from plastics to metals. Shapeways.com also offers a marketplace for Jewelry, Accessories, Gadgets, Miniatures, Home and Lighting, and various unique pieces of Art. The platform has manufactured over 24 million parts and shipped to over 180 countries, serving over a million global customers. It's trusted by businesses around the world and has been working with over a million customers since 2007. The platform also offers customizable products in its marketplace..

"Shapeways.com" accepts payments via all major credit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers. During the “Payment Info” step in the checkout process, users can add and remove payment information. For credit card payments, users are asked to fill out their credit card details (card number, expiration date, security code), and they have an option to save this information for faster checkout next time. However, Shapeways does not support prepaid credit cards due to challenges in receiving refunds if a product cannot be manufactured. For PayPal payments, users are redirected to the PayPal site to complete their payment information once their order has been placed. For bank transfers, once an order is placed, Shapeways emails the bank transfer details (IBAN, Swift, invoice, and account numbers) to the user. The user must state the invoice and their Shapeways account number in their payment. Production on the order does not begin until the payment is received in full. Please anticipate an additional 2-5 days for payment processing in addition to the standard turnaround timeline when using this payment method. Users can also update shipping and billing information in their account settings. If there's any trouble with the payment, it's recommended to contact the bank first to see if they're blocking the purchase before contacting the customer service team. If the bank determines there's nothing blocking the purchase, users can reach out to Shapeways at service@shapeways.com..

Shapeways.com offers a 10-day warranty on the quality of their products after delivery. Any attempts to alter or post-process the model will void this warranty. If there's an issue with the model as it arrived, customers are advised to contact Shapeways with photos of the model without alterations. If a model violates Shapeways' Content Policy prior to printing, they will refuse to print the model and issue a refund. If the violation is discovered after printing, they may not ship the model and may not issue a full refund.

As for the shipping policy, Shapeways.com provides different shipping options for those shipping to the United States. These include Standard, Two Day, and Next Day shipping. The costs for these options are $6.50, $9.50, and $15.50 respectively. All orders are shipped in a standard Shapeways-branded box, but customers have the option of shipping orders to their own address first if they'd like to rebox products with their own custom packaging. Shapeways is proud to ship orders almost anywhere in the world, but the order’s final destination must match the country associated with the customer's billing address..

Shapeways offers a variety of materials for 3D printing. Some of the most popular ones include MJF Plastic PA12, which is a durable nylon plastic with excellent mechanical properties and a slightly grainy finish. It's ideal for a wide range of applications from industrial parts to durable end-use goods. Another popular material is MJF Plastic PA12GB, a heat-resistant plastic infused with glass beads that improve product stiffness and structural integrity. This material is great for flat and large parts that are prone to warping. Versatile Plastic is another durable and waterproof material that can be used for a wide range of applications, both for prototyping and for end products. PA11 (SLS) is a heat-resistant and waterproof material made out of renewable raw materials, making it optimal for use in exterior medical applications. It offers high impact resistance and excellent resistance to chemicals. Colored sandstone is also popular due to its ability to be printed in multiple colors with extremely accurate color gradients and resolution. These are just a few examples of the popular materials on Shapeways. There are many more materials available, each with their own unique properties and applications..

To upload a 3D model to Shapeways, follow these steps:

1. Sign up for an account if you want to upload your files.
2. Log in to your account.
3. Hover over the Start Making button at the top right.
4. Click on Upload Now.
5. Find the gray “Choose a 3D file or drag it here” area, and choose your units, keeping in mind that your model can be re-scaled later.
6. You can either drag and drop your file into this area, or click on it and a dialogue box will pop up—allowing you to select the file for uploading right away.
7. The model page will load, and you can proceed from there.

You can upload as many as 20 designs at a time from My Models, and directly from your model library when empty too. Upon successful uploads, your models will be listed in your library; however, it could take a few minutes for them to appear there.

The acceptable file types are: DAE, OBJ, STL, X3D, X3DB, X3DV, WRL, 3MF, STP, and STEP. For textured files (to print in full-color materials), upload a ZIP folder containing the 3D file and texture file in one of the acceptable formats: 3D files: OBJ, MTL, DAE, WRL, X3D, X3DB, X3DV Texture files: GIF, JPG, PNG.

Please note that the files must be smaller than 64 MB, containing less than 1 million polygons. If your file exceeds this limit, consider compressing the file to a ZIP folder and/or reducing the polygon count of your model.

Shapeways offers a wide range of materials for 3D printing. These include strong plastics, polished metals, sandstone, stainless steel 17-4PH, stainless steel 316L, steel, full color nylon 12 (MJF), MJF plastic PA12, MJF plastic PA12 glass beads, polypropylene (PP), TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane), aluminum (AlSi10Mg), fine detail plastic, high definition full color, PA11 (Nylon 11), TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), versatile plastic (Nylon 12), SLA Accura® Xtreme™ 200, SLA Accura® Xtreme™, SLA Plastic Accura® 60, and wax casting. These materials are used in various 3D printing technologies such as Binder Jetting, HP Multi Jet Fusion [MJF], Laser Powder Bed Fusion Metal (LPBF-M), Material Jetting, Selective Laser Sintering [SLS], and Stereolithography [SLA]. Each material has its unique properties and is suitable for specific applications. For example, SLA Accura 60 is a translucent and rigid acrylate-based plastic well suited for challenging functional assemblies that require transparency. MJF PA12 is HP’s nylon 12 plastic with excellent mechanical properties and a smooth, finished and semi-glossy surface, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications from industrial parts to high quality finished goods. Users can have objects printed in over 55 materials and finishes. With over 75 materials ranging from versatile plastic to steel, aluminum and other precious metals, Shapeways has what you need for any case..