I just got off the phone with Jerry Castanos, a nice fella from Washington Heights in uptown Manhattan. And Jerry tells me that, with the help of his friends, family and the local community, he’s launching the grand opening of his 3D printing store this Saturday, December 21, 2013. Exciting news from an entrepreneur who relied only on the investments of people he knew, and not some large company or venture capital firm. From what Jerry and I discussed, 3D Heights is aiming high.
While Jerry served in the US Army, in logistics and supply chain management, he was exposed to 3D printing and the military’s mobile fab labs, which fit CNC machines, computers and 3D printers into a 20-foot shipping container. On seeing 3D printers produce mission critical parts, on-the-fly, on more than one occasion, Jerry caught glimpses of a future in which everyone might turn to 3D printers to create items on demand. With his background in logistics, it was easy to envision places like Walmart and Amazon relying on the technology to shorten the supply chain and 3D print items, rather than ship them. So, he returned to his native Washington Heights in October and immediately set to work on being a flagship of that 3D printed world.
On Saturday, New Yorkers will be privy to a sleek storefront with six modern computers, a range of 3D printers and 3D scanning technology that they can begin using in various ways. The computers make up the design lab, where patrons will be able to digitally model objects free of charge. Of course, 3D Heights will be selling 3D printers, like the Cube, Cube X and Solidoodle machines, as well as scanners. 3D Heights carries the Microsoft Kinect, 3D Systems Sense and ASUS Xtion PRO Live for object ($25) or full body scanning ($75). 3D printing can be done using Makerbot, Afinia, Cube, Cube X Duo & Trio, Solidoodle or Filabot machines. 3D Heights even has an Mcor Iris for full colour printing (with the possibility of a another machine in the future). The cost of printing an object on one of the shop’s FDM/FFF machines is $15 per print.
3D Heights will offer some of the, now, standard services, such 3D printing consultation and workshops meant to get users comfortable with 3D printing and scanning. A one hour intro to 3D printing course is free, while the two hour course is $100. Unlike other retailers, 3D Heights will offer classes on investing in 3D printing during which, for $100, students will learn about all of the industry’s major players, the future of the technology, and possible jobs that may become available within the field of 3D printing. Jerry explains that such a course will also help potential entrepreneurs that may want to open up their own 3D printing shops.
To get full use out of 3D Heights’ full series of machines, the shop offers three membership plans, ranging from $600 to $800 per month. Each plan (student, individual, and business) give users access to the shop, a number of free 3D prints, discounts on training classes, use of their scanners, use of their Mcor machine, and access to their 40TB hard drive, which Jerry is in the process of networking with every computer and 3D printer in the shop. The membership level you purchase will correspond with the exact number of hours, prints and scans possible every month. The membership fee may be near equivalent to the price of a low-end personal printer, but the diversity of 3D printers and other perks may, for some people, outweigh the purchase of a low-end machine.
Located near several colleges and Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital at 4084 Broadway in Washington Heights, Jerry can expect a lot of foot traffic from those interested in applying 3D printing to their various fields. From talking to the owner on the phone, it’s clear that he understand a good deal about the technologies applications and is ready to teach workshops and guide people from all walks of life on how they might go about using 3D printing in their lives. Jerry also plans to open up free classes to local schools on the weekends to give students hands on access to 3D printing, explaining that those who determine how this technology will be used are the young people of today.
New Yorkers, if you’re in the area, stop by this Saturday and report back to us about what the 3D Heights experience is like. Say “Hi” to Jerry for me, too, while you’re there!
Source: 3D Heights
