Sharing is Caring: 3D Part Download on Shapeways - Shapeways Blog
Sharing is Caring: 3D Part Download on Shapeways
September 2, 2010
You are all now well aware of Noah Improbablecog Beasley’s Open Source Jewelry project on Kickstarter, and you may know of Thingiverse, where Makerbot(ers) share there files to be extruded from hot gooey plastic, you may even know of Content Central, where Solidworks types (or just anyone) can upload/download 3D models of just about anything (mainly mechanical parts).
Shapeways has had the 3D Parts Database for a while, but now sharing your 3D files on Shapeways has just gotten a whole lot easier.
There is now a simple checkbox in your part page that allows others to download your 3D file.
One of the best ways to learn about 3D modeling (or any design really) is to inspect a part and see how it is constructed. By sharing your files you give others a chance to learn from your wisdom and mistakes and you get the opportunity (depending on how you chose to share) of seeing others tweak and improve your design. If you are downloading a file you get to learn from others, take small, early steps into 3D modeling by playing with an existing design, or just the thrill of seeing the relationship between a digital representation on screen which you can then have 3D printed..
If you are interested in sharing your designs you may want to include a creative commons license on your page to let others know how you are willing to share, or if you are willing to just set your babies free, tick 3D Part download, available to all.
19 comments
T. Shawn Johnson
Hey guys,
Since Thingiverse already exists for sharing digital making files for free, I would actually be interested in something else from Shapeways. I would like to sell the file for a small amount of money. I was hoping Shapeways would provide this option so that I could offer some files for free on Thingiverse, and point to other files here for download that were for sale.
Is this possible?
-Whystler
Anonymous
Interesting, I have had a request to purchase a STL on Etsy before, it would be open that file up to piracy/sharing/total loss of control.
With sharing for free, people seem to respect that a little more than a file that is for sale…
T. Shawn Johnson
I think if the license is handled in such a way that the person is not allowed to sell it or give it away, it really is no different from a lot of software available for pay-download. You may have to occasionally police a rogue user, but that’s usually pretty easy because you would just contact the website they were selling/giving it on (ie. shapeways, thingiverse, ponoko) and they will take it down. I doubt it would happen that often.
My aim is to sell a popular file, for the use of folks with 3D printers.
-Whystler
Duann
I do regular searches on Demonoid and Pirate Bay, waiting to see the first 3D files leaked from Dell or Apple.
There was the Product Bay for about 5 seconds that was to be about sharing 3D files but that disappeared quite quickly before going live.
I doubt that piracy will hit the bespoke designer market first, but it would be a claim to fame.
Michael Williams
Is it always the file that I uploaded? I just checked one where I uploaded an STL. Would a VRML be downloadable as a VRML only also?
T. Shawn Johnson
Duann,
Can we already put a markup on 3D files? Or is this something that will come?
-Whystler
Duann
Heya Whystler,
There is currently no provision to sell/mark-up the digital files.
But if this gets enough interest it may be something Shapeways can do?
Aaron Trocola
I’m happy to see this feature! Being able to charge for the models would make our lives easier as model creators (rather than having a separate account on Turbosquid), but it risks leaving 3D printing out of the loop entirely and might be too far outside of Shapeways current mission statement for them to invest the development time. The question arises: Should Shapeways expand to be a enabler of microbusinesses related to all types of 3D creation, or focus on streamlining production and delivery so they can reduce prices and lead-times? Should they try to do both? This is truly a brave new world for business.
Anonymous
Using a markup system, would be just another way that Shapeways can have a revenue stream. And what easier revenue stream than have a percentage of file downloads? No printing, post-processing or shipping involved – very efficient. I hope they do it. I will have files I’m already working on to offer on Ponoko (which does do this for laser cutting, but allows other files) by the end of the weekend. I would much rather offer the 3D files on Shapeways because it’s congruent with the product and my shop here.