Shapeways, a New York-headquartered 3D printing marketplace and service bureau, has partnered with ZVerse to integrate its CAD as a Service (CADaaS) platform.
Driven by AI, CADaaS will enable the design of new 3D models and the optimization of existing 3D files all within the Shapeways website. John Carrington, founder and CEO of ZVerse, explained:
“Our CADaaS platform bridges the 3D design gap, which in turn opens the sales pipeline for Shapeways and others in on-demand manufacturing.”
“Typically, ODMs reject up to 40% of job requests because customers don’t have the manufacturable 3D files they need. Instead, we turn this gap into business by taking care of their customers who don’t have files or need them optimized, and deliver them back through a fast and seamless experience.”
Accelerating 3D design
Founded in 2013, ZVerse, based in South Carolina, aims to address the challenge of digital content creation. Thus, the CADaaS platform was developed to allow on-demand services with an avenue of designing 3D printable objects.
This is done through a custom-branded, 3D designer portal which is placed on a website where customers can submit requests for specific projects. Once a quote is given based on the design, the customer can then place their order through a Zverse selected designer. The 3D file is then delivered with guaranteed manufacturability.
Presently, Shapeways offers over 50 materials and finishes for a range of industries, including the healthcare sector. ZVerse’s software is said to be capable of handling high project volumes which integrate specific materials. Greg Kress, CEO of Shapeways, added:
“ZVerse’s AI-enabled platform expedites the design process by automating many aspects of the file creation workflow. We ship more than 180,000 3D printed products per month, and ZVerse enables us to scale to our customer’s needs.”
Shapeways and ZVerse
Shapeways has equipped creators with industrial additive manufacturing through various channels. Recently, the platform partnered with Etsy to provide shop owners with a direct passage to manage orders from Shapeways. The additional collaboration with ZVerse hopes to further strengthen its ability to manufacture on demand.
Kress continued, “Our partnership with ZVerse allows us to take our customer relationships end-to-end by fully integrating 3D design services into our platform, ensuring our prospective customers remain within our ecosystem,” said Greg Kress, CEO of Shapeways.
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Featured image shows a 3D printed part. Photo via Shapeways.