You can always try and contact the designer and offer them several hundred dollars for their design. Jaspn
Are you asking if you can buy the 3D file from someone on Shapeways so you can have it printed somewhere else? If so that would be up to the designer who owns it. They may or may not be willing to sell the file depending on a number of factors. I think that would be the case anywhere, not just Shapeways. Selling someone the .STL file would almost be like Atlas selling someone a master mold for one of their products. -Mike
You're pretty right Mike. I recently found that the cost of FUD needed to print an n scale container is ridiculous compared to what is a$ked on shapeways... Depending on the object or vehicle I'd likely buy the file for (let say) 100$ and have it printed closer to my house with a better quality and probably for a lower cost... Envoyé de mon GT-I9195 en utilisant Tapatalk
There may be a markup on those containers you can work with. One thing you should do, if it's just the price (and not quality of print) you should reach out to the designer to see if they'd be willing to put together a special order for you. With FUD you don't have to pay a Shapeways handling fee per part, so the designer can put several containers in one file and set a "bulk" price for you. Could save you some money that way while putting a few dollars in the designer's pocket as well. I've worked with customers for some of my offerings, I'm sure there are other designers out there open to working with similar needs. (and if you can't find any help from the designer you're interested in feel free to PM me, I'll work with you) Good luck! -Mike
MUST READ, GAMECHANGER ON HORIZION: Ever since Rob Allbritton recommended the Formlabs printer for Z scale work I have been on the fence waiting to jump into the 3D game, but I just wanted the 3D prints to be a little higher resolution and faster. The Form2 does quite acceptable work in Z, but I think there is an even better choice of printer now available. Yesterday I stumbled onto the Solus DLP 3D Printer. It's affordable, and if you like, doubles as a home theater projector. What you say? Yup! Although none of the sample artwork is of model railroad subjects, look at some of these samples: Cathedral on US Quarter Class Ring O Scale Pineapple 32mm tall Figure Packed Build Area Example So what I have discovered already is that there is quite an array of mom and pop 3D printers out there that can more than blow away Shapeways best offerings. They seem to have their own forums, and followers, who are experimenters and craftsmen, doing all kinds of things like blending their own high resolution resins to the tune of $100 a liter solutions that are quite affordable. They modify their resin tray's so you don't have to pour goop over the optical bottom, instead using cell phone or tablet screen protectors for no mess peel and stick solutions and still produce unbelievable, well focused high resolution parts. They modify their projectors for higher intensity lamps thus faster printing. It looks like the printer itself is just a simple lift mechanism, and all the real work is done with 3D capable HD Home Theater projectors, which can give resolutions 5+ times finer than a Form2 can focus it's laser spot, and print the whole layer with one exposure instead of direct writing an entire slice with a single laser beam 140um spot size. Yep, the secret for both resolution and throughput is in the DLP Pixel Size. If the Solus is not refined enough there are lots of other DLP offerings under $5K that are stepping up their game. I suspect a 4K 3D DLP Projector will outperform a 1080P 3D DLP Projector in the very near future, and drop these hobbiest machines into the $2-3K range real soon.
I don't sell my files but anyone with a PC and a 3D program can design something and transfer it in to an STL. file. Netfabb Basic is a free downloadable program that will check you file and fix any problems and you can change your 3D files to STL. so they can be printed!
Someone commented about shapeways Walmart printout. Do these look like Walmart specials! Shapeways still has there problems. I have been using them since 2013. I'm not a professional designer but I have always like to draw and I work with just a photo most of the time because finding spec. on things isn't easy even with the internet! These are just some of the projects I have done and I do them in the FUD material. The only problem I find is cleaning models that are designed like mine in Z scale. Some show print marks but I find some are printed very well. I believe it's the Engineer that do the printing try to place to many print in one printing to keep up with the orders coming in which causes problems when printing. I have gotten some models with some one else parts from their model attached to mine. There prices are to high it depends on the design and the amount of material use to print. I have to use the min. size to keep my prices down. So with time I thing they will fix there problems. Some of these model also have moving parts. Adding one more thing I have found that placing more then one piece in a print the price may be better. I did one and then I put four in an other print and the price was better then ordering four of one item.
Solus looks like a nice printer. My only issue with it is the print volume size. At 25 microns it goes down to 48x27x80mm At 41 microns you get 80x45x80mm Whereas the Formlabs 2 gives you 145x145x175mm. Each printer has its strengths and weaknesses. But quite a bit of it is how well the user can drive the tool.
I clean my FUD printed parts by putting it several times in an small cheap ultra sonic cleaner (for juwelry). I use water and a little dishwash detergent. Repeat the process untill the nothing comes off anymore. Yes if you combine multiple parts in one stl file you save on setup costs.
Frank, I haven't tried the sonic cleaner but know a few that does. I use hot water and dawn dish soap also I find that the hot water will help remove the wax that gets into the moving parts, but after running hot tap water they free up easy! I found that Bestine tends to dry out the plastic a bit and after time if not cleaned properly they become brittle. I have also tried denatured alcohol which also breaks up the wax and oil left on models. But this isn't easy process to use brushes some time break parts off to I foundthat setting the models on a paper towel to let dry for a couple of days also helps! I think I will try the Sonic cleaner but some of my project are to large to fit in the cleaner!
I've idly browsed Shapeways before for Z scale things, but never purchased. Is it just me, or do the prices largely seem a bit steep?
There are several factors that can contribute to that: the type of material, how the designer created their model (solid vs hollow - I spend a lot of time trying to minimize the amount of required material in my models to reduce costs) and the markup added from the designer. If you need a lot of something, see if you can get a bulk deal to reduce costs. If you're a quick learner and savvy with a computer (and interested,) try your hand at designing your own models with Sketchup or other freely available software to do your own Shapeways prints. -Mike
I wasn't even aware you could upload your own designs as a normal buyer. I will definitely look into that! Thanks.
The biggest problem are the support wire sizes. for detail FUD I have found the best and also has the smallest surpport size. I have been printing out models since 2013 and there have been a few problems printing out Z scale and it's in there handling and cleaning 1:220 pieces. They try to blame a lot on the designer but I think that they just have to many people wanting prints and don't have the time and print to many at one time. I have gotten models with parts that where not on the model I deigned and was fused with some one else model! These are not consider toy and have to be handled carefully! but after priming and painting they seem to be stronger for being so small. Most of the piece in this photo are 3D printed this is a 76in x 32" layout in Z scale photo is just half of the layout but really crowed with 3D printed models and a few store bought and scratch built!There are also train cars that have been 3D printed. So you can do much with 3D printing.
Hi, I did another try to have a darby steel gondola printed in the new Shapeways material HDA. This one showed better ladders, but the brakewheel was wrapped and even more printing artifacts than previous print... FUD and FXD look much better. My conclusion here is that for Z-scale FUD/FXD, in combination with photo etched details, is currently the best approach for 3D printing in Z-scale.
I came to the same conclusion you did. The HDA has SO MUCH potential, both of my test prints had incredible detail in some areas, however, they also had unacceptable flaws that were a natural byproduct of that printing process. Too many sprues lend to pock-marks and chips, and the material, at least in my case, was still soft so my shells couldn't hold shape. It's a shame, but FUD will suit me just fine until the next advancement comes along. Cheers -Mike
To compare FUD wit FXD - the same body shell of PKP ST44 (nick name Gagarin due to Russian production). I think it is worth to pay more for better quality of printing comparing those two materials.
