>
shop.seibertron.com amazon.seibertron.com Facebook Twitter X YouTube Pinterest Instagram Myspace LinkedIn Patreon Podcast RSS
This page runs on affiliate links — your clicks may earn us a few Shanix. Want the full transmission? Roll out to our Affiliate Disclosure.

Shapeways Help/Tips

Post all your customized Transformers here. Whether it's a small mod or a true kitbash, we'd love to see it!

Shapeways Help/Tips

Postby Incedius » Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:11 am

Just started with shapeways and I'm wondering if any veterans here can give some tips or just things to look out for in general :D

Some questions I have off the top of my hat is whether the plastic shrinks after printing and if so how much?

Also what's a good distance to put between the ball and socket?

On another note:
I'm working on a replacement sword/tail for TFP voyager predaking and this is my progress so far. http://shpws.me/oAlC I've made some changes since but didn't update the model.

I wanted the sword and tail to be articulated and still fit the original T shaped peg on voyager predaking. I also redesigned the peg so he can hold it better in robot mode, hopfully... can't confirm until tested...
Incedius
Mini-Con
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:12 am

Re: Shapeways Help/Tips

Postby wulongti » Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:51 am

Weapon: Battle Blades
your design is looking pretty good so far. The material has some flex to it so I typically make my balls and their sockets the same size. This way they are tight enough to grip. If you go with the "polished" option then you'll get material shrinkage since the top layer is getting sanded off. It's also REALLY hard to predict just how much is going to be removed and plan accordingly.. especially when working at a tiny scale.

I know that Fakebusker83 (Ariel Lemon) on TFW was also working on a tail replacement but I don't think he's as far along as you are. Or if so, hasn't shown it off.

Keep up the good work, I look forward to seeing more of your stuff ^__^
wulongti
Fuzor
Posts: 272
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:27 am
Location: Highland Lakes, NJ
Watch wulongti on YouTube
Buy from wulongti on eBay
Strength: 6
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 7
Endurance: 5
Rank: 3
Courage: 8
Firepower: 2
Skill: 5

Re: Shapeways Help/Tips

Postby Incedius » Wed Jul 24, 2013 10:38 am

wulongti wrote:your design is looking pretty good so far. The material has some flex to it so I typically make my balls and their sockets the same size. This way they are tight enough to grip. If you go with the "polished" option then you'll get material shrinkage since the top layer is getting sanded off. It's also REALLY hard to predict just how much is going to be removed and plan accordingly.. especially when working at a tiny scale.

I know that Fakebusker83 (Ariel Lemon) on TFW was also working on a tail replacement but I don't think he's as far along as you are. Or if so, hasn't shown it off.

Keep up the good work, I look forward to seeing more of your stuff ^__^


Thanks for the reply! That's good to know!
I currently have 2 different sets of balls, 1 exact and 1 about 0.5mm smaller than the socket prepared. Personally I don't mind either sanding or thickening the balls to fit but I'm not sure if that's acceptable if I actually release it for the public.

For the polished option, will it affect all surfaces of the parts uniformly? I can see them buffing the outer surface but what about the hard to reach places like the inside of the socket?
Incedius
Mini-Con
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:12 am

Re: Shapeways Help/Tips

Postby Incedius » Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:06 pm

Image
Image
Updated my sword @ http://shpws.me/oAlC
Still haven't tested it but I'm fairly certain this would print ok...

Image
Image
Also added something new @ http://shpws.me/oCmW

Not sure if I should make another thread for them...
Incedius
Mini-Con
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:12 am

Re: Shapeways Help/Tips

Postby wulongti » Wed Jul 24, 2013 7:16 pm

Weapon: Battle Blades
Incedius wrote:
Thanks for the reply! That's good to know!
I currently have 2 different sets of balls, 1 exact and 1 about 0.5mm smaller than the socket prepared. Personally I don't mind either sanding or thickening the balls to fit but I'm not sure if that's acceptable if I actually release it for the public.

For the polished option, will it affect all surfaces of the parts uniformly? I can see them buffing the outer surface but what about the hard to reach places like the inside of the socket?

The polishing process is basically they print out the object in WSF then toss it into a large rock tumbler with some polishing stones to grind off the outer layer of material. It's never the same thing twice and can sometimes leave your balls uneven.. (I know that doesn't sound right but how else to say it??) I tend to work on a ridiculously tiny scale so I've had no end of problems when it comes the polishing process messing up my joints. I've found it better to go larger and sand off if you need to. Of course it's always best for your customers if they don't have to modify things at all.

Incedius wrote:Image
Image
Updated my sword @ http://shpws.me/oAlC
Still haven't tested it but I'm fairly certain this would print ok...

Image
Image
Also added something new @ http://shpws.me/oCmW

Not sure if I should make another thread for them...


That's a pretty neat idea, the shield :D

On this site, yeah I create a new thread for each item. Mainly because whomever is handling the Creative Spotlight for the week only looks for new threads, not looking for new things in existing threads. So if you want them to get listed there, go w/ a thread for each. ^__^
wulongti
Fuzor
Posts: 272
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:27 am
Location: Highland Lakes, NJ
Watch wulongti on YouTube
Buy from wulongti on eBay
Strength: 6
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 7
Endurance: 5
Rank: 3
Courage: 8
Firepower: 2
Skill: 5

Re: Shapeways Help/Tips

Postby Incedius » Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:41 pm

Thanks again for the replies!

I can't send PMs yet so I just want to say my thanks here for your suggestion in it. :D
Incedius
Mini-Con
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:12 am

Re: Shapeways Help/Tips

Postby Va'al » Thu Jul 25, 2013 3:45 am

Motto: "Till All Are Pun!"
wulongti wrote:On this site, yeah I create a new thread for each item. Mainly because whomever is handling the Creative Spotlight for the week only looks for new threads, not looking for new things in existing threads. So if you want them to get listed there, go w/ a thread for each. ^__^


Not true! We trail through all of them, but things sometimes escape. [-(

If you want to make one thread for your own productions, just update the title like Tresob does for his Kreon upgrades. ;)
User avatar
Va'al
God Of Transformers
Posts: 17010
News Credits: 6188
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 12:00 pm
Location: Italy
Buy from Va'al on eBay

Re: Shapeways Help/Tips

Postby wulongti » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:59 am

Weapon: Battle Blades
Va'al wrote:Not true! We trail through all of them, but things sometimes escape. [-(

If you want to make one thread for your own productions, just update the title like Tresob does for his Kreon upgrades. ;)

I've been schooled! Sorry Va'al, now I know better. :/
wulongti
Fuzor
Posts: 272
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:27 am
Location: Highland Lakes, NJ
Watch wulongti on YouTube
Buy from wulongti on eBay
Strength: 6
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 7
Endurance: 5
Rank: 3
Courage: 8
Firepower: 2
Skill: 5


Return to Customizations


[ Incoming message. Source unknown. ] No Signal - Please Stand By [ Click to attempt signal recovery... ]


Transformers and More @ The Seibertron Store

Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Spawn Kills Every Spawn TPB Image Comics 2025 0525IM479 TP (CA) Duenas"
NEW!
Spawn Kills Every ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "KING SPAWN #47 Cvr B Image Comics 2025 0425IM371 47B (CA) Tomaselli"
NEW!
KING SPAWN #47 Cvr ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "KING SPAWN #47 Cvr A Image Comics 2025 0425IM370 47A (CA) Sabbatini"
NEW!
KING SPAWN #47 Cvr ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Spawn SCORCHED #42 Cvr B Image Comics 2025 0325IM367 42B (CA) Sabbatini"
Spawn SCORCHED #42 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "KING SPAWN #1 Cvr E Image Comics 2021 MAY218952 1E (CA) Capullo (W) Lewis"
NEW!
KING SPAWN #1 Cvr ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SCORCHED #1 Cvr G Image Comics 2022 OCT218159 1G (CA) Stegman (W) Lewis"
NEW!
SCORCHED #1 Cvr G ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SAVAGE DRAGON #276 Cvr B Trade Dress Image Comics 2025 0125IM417 276B Larsen"
SAVAGE DRAGON #276 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SPAWN #366 Cvr A Image Comics 2025 0325IM368 366A (CA) Booth (W) McFarlane"
NEW!
SPAWN #366 Cvr A I ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SPAWN #358 Cvr A Image Comics 2024 0724IM405 358A (CA) Carlos (W) McConville"
SPAWN #358 Cvr A I ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SAVAGE DRAGON #277 Cvr B Retro Image Comics 2025 0125IM421 277B (W/A/CA) Larsen"
SAVAGE DRAGON #277 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SAVAGE DRAGON #277 Cvr A Image Comics 2025 0125IM420 277A (W/A/CA) Larsen"
SAVAGE DRAGON #277 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SAVAGE DRAGON #276 Cvr A Image Comics 2025 0125IM416 276A (W/A/CA) Larsen"
SAVAGE DRAGON #276 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SPAWN #366 Cvr B Image Comics 2025 0325IM369 366B (CA) Aguillo (W) McFarlane"
NEW!
SPAWN #366 Cvr B I ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "GUNSLINGER SPAWN #44 Cvr A Image Comics 2025 0325IM311 44A (CA) Barends"
GUNSLINGER SPAWN # ...
These are affiliate links. We may earn a commission.
Details subject to change. See listing for latest price and availability.

Featured Products on Amazon.com

Buy "Transformers Titans Return Grotusque and Scorponok Deluxe Action Figure Exclusive Set" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Sinnertwin" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Dinobot Slug" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 09 Voyager Class Movie 2 Thundercracker" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Titans Return Repugnus, Dastard, and Solus Prime Prime Master" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Voyager Class Grimlock" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Megatronus Prime Master" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Deluxe Ratchet Action Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Nucleon and Galvatron" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Robots in Disguise Warrior Class Grimlock Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Titan Master Grax and Skullsmasher" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Leader Class Thundercracker Figure" on AMAZON
These are affiliate links. We may earn a commission.
Details subject to change. See listing for latest price and availability.