Shapeways – 3D Modeling Startup for Us to Customize Products We Buy

Today a do it yourself 3D-design and production startup Shapeways is launched out of Philips Lifestyle incubator. Shapeways Creator Engine allows you to design and modify the products and have them manufactured for you looking exactly the way you want them to look. The site owners claim that the interface does not even require any knowledge or experience in 3D modeling so you are free to experiment and see if you will be able to create something unique that you will be willing to buy for yourself or for your loved ones.

The site features a library of predesigned product templates to make it even easier to get started. Or at least it promises to have - right now the only thing that you can take and modify is a lamp with a fruit bowl promised to be “coming soon”. But for those who can already use 3D modeling tools, there is an import functionality to have the already created designs manufactured here. All the designs are first evaluated to make sure they actually can be manufactured and receive a cost estimate.

In the end if a user chooses to have this or that item manufactured, the site owners promise it will be manufactured and delivered globally (!!!) within 10 business days. I guess I will have to experiment with the site myself at least to see if they are really able to deliver to Russia within 10 days because it really sounds quite far from reality here. But even if this one promise is not fulfilled for some countries, the idea itself is gorgeous, I think.

Just imagine the possibilities: giving your friends for their wedding a fruit bowl with their names and some wishes from you knowing that no one in the entire world will own anything similar. It is definitely the place to have something with a personal touch manufactured for you to have in your own possession or to give to someone you care about. And the best part is that you don’t even have to think about where to order the product you have designed because everything will be done for you with you only making the payment.

Of course right now the site looks more appealing to those who can already create their own products in 3D modeling software simply because here they will be able to share their ideas and have them rated by other users. Besides, it eliminates all the hassle involved in having the designed items manufactured. But if the site owners will be adding new templates to the library of default templates, the site will be able to reach more mainstream users as well.