Truly Custom Manufacturing

3D printing is a very interesting form of manufacturing technology that is already beginning to blow away the doors of traditional manufacturing and machining in some situations. The intricate products and prototypes that are being developed through 3D printing can hold a wide variety of details, colors, textures, and features. In a nutshell, this technology can create some pretty cool stuff!

Currently, 3D printing is used by a wide variety of individuals and companies. Some small businesses have a few desktop 3D printers lying around in the office to create prototypes. Some larger corporations have miniature factories that can produce a wide variety of models. Many hobbyist designers have their own "home" 3D printer. These home printers can cost anywhere from $800 - $4,000. From these printers, hobbyists are creating a variety of products, typically from ABS plastic. Printers are available for anyone to buy if capital isn't an issue, but unfortunately it is. Not everyone can simply spend around $1,000 on a machine for hobby purposes. Where there is an issue there, the private companies all over the world are jumping on it! If money can be made off of a service, there will also be competition. Let me jump into the service companies that offer 3D printing.

Various companies like Kraftwurx, Shapeways, Sculpteo, I.Materialise, and Ponoko are offering 3D printing to the masses at an international level. Why spend thousands of dollars on a machine when you can let someone else do that? These companies allow for users to submit their designs to be manufactured through 3D printing. Most orders range from $50 - $150 at these companies, and you get 100% unique 3D printed products. Most of these companies host a store of user submitted models that you can have manufactured.

Submitting your own models for manufacturing is an entirely custom engine; the models have to be designed by you, and they will be manufactured for you. These companies are promoting the technology known as 3D printing, and they are making it easy to get YOUR work manufactured. However, let's say that you're interesting in your own custom products - but don't know much about design. You could always hire up a designer to work for you, but that definitely isn't free. Most novice designers work at $15 - $20 an hour. Definitely not free. Is there any cost effective solution to providing truly unique designs to consumers who lack design skills?

Fortunately, there is some progress. Shapeways offers a couple softwares that allow for the customization of various ceramics. Shapeways even worked with soundcloud.com to allow for your own custom songs to be printed on ipod cases. Pretty interesting huh? There isn't too much outside of Shapeways offering true customization.

Actually, there is software being developed right now. Kraftwurx will be launching a truly custom engine that allows for the adjustment of various products by users who don't have any design experience. Placing images, text, and curves on shapes will be very easy through the software that is expected to launch within the next year. Only time will tell! Hopefully these companies will work to stay competitive, giving consumers the best experience.

If you enjoyed this article, you might what else is new with 3D Printing, or possibly you'd like to join a 3D Printing Community.

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Custom Software Development - It's Time To Hit the Beach!

Are the day-to-day, nitty-gritty details of your business drowning you? If you're a small business owner, the fine points of managing your business may even keep you from taking a vacation! Stop the madness! In my humble opinion, there's a much better way.

You may be wondering how I can afford to take a vacation. What about all of the tiny details my business entails? Well, I've found the answer to all of my needs and problems.

Custom Software Development!

I'm no longer bogged down with staffing needs, payroll, overtime, invoices, scheduling or paychecks. My brain cells were being eaten away. I came home many nights from work a lot with a huge headache.

But no more!

Let me share a few of the benefits of having a custom software development company help your business:

1. Saves money. No need for those nagging upgrades. Or, you'll find you only may need one trained software input employee instead of shelling out mega paychecks for two or three.

2. Goal compatibility. Your business has many goals and the right software will help you attain them.

3. Specifically designed. This is a super feature as a good product can be precisely suited for your company's needs.

4. 24/7 support. This is essential. You can build a relationship with the developer so he can almost read your mind as to where you want your business to go in the future.

5. Risk factor. The reputation of your software developer should lower any risks. If the product fails to produce the way you want it to, simply give them a call and get them to back up their product. They are skilled professionals working for your company's success.

6. Quality product. Custom developers usually put more time and effort into the quality of their product versus the big time manufacturer who puts out a product like a cookie factory.

7. Advanced technology. A good custom software development company will strive to keep up-to-date with the latest advances in technology. They'll make it their goal to "keep up with the Joneses" so you don't have to.

I really don't need to tell you how crucial a good business software is to the success of your company. It has become a vital part of every day life. Software is a tool any business simply can't do without. That's why it must work well.

No excuses.

Reliability isn't something you can be assured you'll receive if you buy an "off the shelf" software package. That's why I'm suggesting you take a hard look at having a custom software development program designed for your terrific company's success.

I enjoy my vacation time. I enjoy the sound of the surf and the taste of salt water whether lapping around my ankles or tickling my taste buds. Want to join me? Then consider hiring a custom software development company to take your business to the next level. Come on in. The water's fine!

Custom software development will help you to do business the way you've designed. Take control with http://suscosolutions.com/

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Custom 3D Printing

3D printing custom products is one of the newest phenomena's today. This technology has allowed for the precise creation of very diverse and intricate shapes & figurines, opposed to traditional forms of manufacturing. Some materials and 3D printers offer detail levels which are less than 15 microns. Some of these materials offer full color options, as well as mechanical properties. Where I'm getting at with the materials, is that for whatever need you're seeking in a product, 3D printing likely offers a material solution. Many companies and services have capitalized on this great technology known as 3D printing, and are opening the door to cutting edge laser technology for their clients. Through 3D printing, true customization is offered. Let me elaborate.

For 3D printing to work, a design has to be created on a computer. This computer file will then be sent to the actual 3D printer, or the machine that will do the manufacturing. This machine will then produce a product in accordance to the design sent to the machine. This product will be made out of a material specified by the product developer. Some of these materials include precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum, a variety of ABS plastics, stainless steel, and full color sandstone. There are even a variety of wax cast-able materials for creating jewelry. What am I getting at with all of this? If a product can be designed or created for a person, it can be made through 3D printing. This means that artists and developers can create truly 100% unique products. Entirely unique.

What does this include? Well, pretty much anything that can be sculpted & designed on a computer. There are tons of custom made products that are specific to each designer. There are companies that actually 3D print clients' faces. There are businesses that create custom video game characters coming from your favorite computer games. There are custom designs made for unique purposes; for example: in the United Kingdom, a team of cyclists had custom bike helmets made. 3D printing has been used to create architectural pieces to present to clients. It has been used to create models for future products to be further developed, such as prototypes. Other products have been made such as custom board game pieces and scale models to be painted and played within war games. Accessories such as iPhone cases and various custom jewelry have been developed. It's almost pointless to keep naming examples because there are simply too many to cover. Just imagine this. If it can be drawn on a computer screen through various free and paid softwares, it can be manufactured through 3D printing. Not only that, but the models designed are designed differently; traditional forms of manufacturing simply don't offer the same build capabilities when it comes down to actually creating the products. 3D printing offers a quicker solution that has the potential to create more diverse models. These models are often more inexpensive than traditional forms of manufacturing such as machining. Regardless, this industry is going nowhere but up. Just imagine where this industry will be 20 years from now.

If you enjoyed this article, you might what else is new with 3D Printing, or possibly you'd like to join a 3D Printing Community.

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