It's been 2 weeks since Shapeways shutdown their operations and my life was turned upside-down. Finding a production partner was already using the right equipment, the capability to pre-process our batch orders and the ability to fulfill our shipping needs was the goal.
Fortunately, I was able to find just the right partner that check all the boxes. Evolv3d Lab not only has the setup, but they also printed my products before. As an overflow printer for Shapeways, it allowed for a rather quick transition. There are a few items we are still working out. However, the more orders we get under our belts, the quicker and better this process will become.
NEW Material Options
Historically, our fine-detail plastic products were printed on MJP printers. This "Monkey-Jet" printing process uses a wax to support the printing parts so, we can achieve a high-level of detail, a smooth finish and have the capability of producing any geometry without the need of printed supports. Since "fine detail plastic" was a term coined by my pervious partner so, I'd like to introduce the following…
Classic MJP is the same translucent acrylic material we have used in the past. It is capable of an extremely high level of detail with the smooth finish you've come to expect. Like before, these parts can be brittle so handle them with care. Its color may range from amber to clear and even though it is a type of plastic, it will NOT react with Plastic Glue like injection molded parts. We recommend using Super Glue to adhere these parts to your models.
TufFlex MJP is another Monkey-Jet material with the same capability of detail and smoothness as Classic. However, it's formulated for improved toughness and flexibility to provide a bend-but-don't-break strategy of protection for your models. Thin parts may arrive slightly warped but, can be easily re-shaped by warming them up to be bent back into shape. This can also be an added benefit if you're looking to glue a flat logo onto a curved surface. At room temperature parts will flex but, they can be brittle at much lower temperatures. Use super glue to adhere these parts to your models.
Final Thoughts
I want to thank everyone that reached out and offered support in my time of need. I'm still in a tough spot, but there is definitely a bright light on the horizon. Thank you!
If you don't know what happened, you can find out more here.