Offering solutions with printing services all over the world, Shapeways added another solution to its product range. Announcing to use interlocking metal models in its productions, the company aims to meet increasing metal demands.
Performing daily 3.000 productions on average, Manhattan based Shapeways continues to expand its service range. The company is foreseen to be more active in jewellery sector with interlocking metal designs including bronze, silver and brass.
For designers interested in working with these new materials, Shapeways’ Community Manager, Kat Kinkead, offers some tips and tricks. Of note, the tolerances between interlocking metal parts must be a minimum of 1mm apart. Minimum wire thickness is 1.5mm. Additionally, designers should note that models can have a maximum of 6 interlocking parts, and the entire model must fit within a 75 x 75 x 40 mm bounding box.
Stating that this innovation will affect the customer demands Shapeways CEO Peter Weijmarshausen continued thusly; “We progress with the aim of becoming a leading platform limited only with our customers’ imagination.”
Popular Shapeways designer Lana Betty notes that “To design jewelry specific for 3D printing is to design a piece that could not be made any other way. What I love about interlocking 
metals, is that it encompasses this idea perfectly. Clients look at my interlocked pieces with wonderment and curiosity, searching for the point at which the metal was cut and re-soldered together. When it clicks and they begin to comprehend how the jewelry was designed and created, is the best moment. They get it and they immediately love the piece even more.”