Shapeways Announces Online Product Customization

By DE Editors

Shapeways (Eindhoven, The Netherlands), a new platform and global community for 3D design and production, takes a step toward the next generation of consumer co-creation with the announcement of the Shapeways Creator Engine, which enables affordable personal design and manufacturing with new easy to use 3D Online Customization Engine.

For the first time, consumers without 3D modeling skills can shape, mash, imprint, and design their own 3D products in just a few mouse clicks at Shapeways.com. The Shapeway Creator Engine has a beta library of pre-designed product templates, which is expected to grow to more than 100 designs by the end of 2009.

Shapeways.com enables consumers to create their own unique designs, by allowing them to customize designs with their own personal creativity. Shapeways offers 3D modelers an affordable, web-based way to share and produce their designs imported directly from popular 3D modeling software via a technique called 3Dprinting.

Shapeways checks whether the object can be made and provides a real-time cost estimate. Within 10 working days, a tangible 3D product will be produced and arrive at the consumer’s home globally. You can even build your own portfolio online.

To experience the new Shapeways Creator Engine, logon to “Welcome to Shapeways.”

Sources:  Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.