On Tuesday 3D Hubs and Thingiverse announced a partnership, which enables people all over the world the ability to ‘print anything anywhere’. Seriously, it’s pretty amazing, but if as you reach the end of your coffee you’re still wondering ‘How does this news change my day?’, read on.
For a start we’re talking 3D printing and the gist of this partnership means that I can sit at my desk in my New York office, select a design on Thingiverse, and have it printed and delivered as a gift to my mom-in-law South Africa within 48hours.
On Tuesday I set out to see what damage I could do from 7,8003 miles away. This is where I got
Let’s do this!
1: I’ve chosen a cool napkin design from the lovely Sebastian and Arianna of Simplus Design. Napkin Ring.
2: It’s time to ‘Get This Printed’
3: I’m now through to 3dhubs.com and browsing local Stellenbosch Hubs.
4: I’ve selected Form Tech’s Hub in Montague Gardens as they seem to have PLA in a range of great colors. White looks pretty nifty and is relatively inoffensive, so white it is.
5: The total is $20.42, which includes a $2 tip that will go straight to the designers in recognition of their work - thanks guys!
6: And just like that I’ve submitted an order. I’ll probably hear from Form Tech in the next few hours and by Thursday AM my mom-in-law will have a new napkin Ring designed by some great Brooklyn Designers, in her Jonkershoek (you can find that on the Google) home.
I reckon $20.42 is less than the postage alone. The napkin won’t get stuck in customs, and it’s not going to get stolen in the post - a reality if you live in SA.
So how is the ability to print anything, anywhere going to change your Tuesday AM? It probably won’t. But I’m hoping it’s going to win me daughter-in-law points on Thursday when my mom-in-law receives the napkin rings I sent to Africa as an stl and which Form Tech transformed into a physical product.
That was Tuesday. The napkin ring is no longer an .stl, but a complete physical product waiting for collection. Updates and photos to follow once collected and in the hands of the new owner.
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Apr '15last reply
May '15- 7
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