3D printing is a finicky art and, until perfect quality control systems make it nearly flawless to fabricate items, there are still lots of kinks to work out. Makers know that that shouldn’t stop anyone from having some fun. With its new Pilots page, Shapeways has embraced this same ideology, giving some customers the ability to work with fun new features and materials.
Though previous customers and designers were able to take advantage of Shapeways’ pilot ceramics and full-color plastic, the launch of the page starts with three new material options: Interlocking Metal, Aluminum and Black Nylon 11. The Interlocking Metal option allows users to print in interlocking designs to be cast in silver or brass. Aluminum is just how it sounds: objects printed with Shapeways, even interlocking parts, can now be cast in lightweight, strong, high-tolerance aluminum. Finally, Black Nylon 11 is the black version of their traditionally white Nylon 11.
For all of Shapeways’ pilot programs, anyone can either sign up or must sign up for a waitlist. Once they begin testing out the service’s new pilots, they can provide feedback to the company, ultimately helping them decide whether or not to take it out of beta and offer it to the public at large. They’ll also take feedback from the community as to what they should try next, including any material you’d like to see, such as, say, laser sintered wood? This could be the beginning of something exciting for Shapeways!
