Read concise notes on DfAM, material choice, finishing, inspection, and when a printed part should move to another process.
A procurement checklist for evaluating Shapeways 3D printing service in 2025. Covers total cost of ownership, DFM feedback, hidden fees, laser marking, and in-house 3D printers with active heated chamber.
Continue ReadingHow to choose between 3D printing and CNC milling from a cost-control point of view. A scenario-based guide covering Shapeways in 2025, DfAM principles, and options for buyers in smaller markets like Sioux Falls, SD.
Continue ReadingA practical checklist for engineers, designers, and small business owners sourcing custom parts under tight deadlines. Covers process selection, supplier vetting, costs, and how to use platforms like Shapeways effectively.
Continue ReadingFive years and roughly $400K in custom manufacturing orders taught me that the cheapest quote isn't the cheapest part. Here's how I choose between Shapeways 3D printing, CNC machining, and DIY printing with a Raspberry Pi—using total cost, not sticker price.
Continue ReadingA product designer shares hard-won lessons from 47 failed manufacturing orders—covering Shapeways 3D printing service design rules, Fanuc vs. China CNC laser cutting machine HX3040 comparisons, and the rake angle mistake that cost $2,300.
Continue ReadingA production lead with 200+ orders through Shapeways shares hard-earned lessons about the 3D printing service in 2025. Learn about injection molding coating mistakes, turnaround certainty, and how 3D printers help sea turtles.
Continue ReadingA procurement manager explains why the lowest manufacturing quote is rarely the lowest total cost. Lessons from CNC machining, 3D printing filaments, and a CO2 laser search in Savannah, GA—and why the Shapeways shop now fits the buying process.
Continue ReadingA procurement manager's take on why low quotes for 3D printing, CNC machining, and sheet metal fabrication often lead to higher total costs—and how a TCO mindset helps you avoid the trap.
Continue ReadingA procurement manager compares Shapeways 3D printing, CNC Swiss machining in Dallas TX, and laser cutting vs waterjet cutting for a reamer PVC body and blade. A story about total cost and transparent quotes.
Continue ReadingA designer's story about prototyping with Shapeways 3D printing service, learning what hybrid reamers can and can't do, and why the industrial laser welding machine price almost fooled me.
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