Tag Archives: jewelry
3D Printing Startup Mixee Labs Expands Portfolio with Artisan Jewelry Launch and Platform
Mixee Labs Adds Customizable 3D Printed Jewelry and Has Plans for More
In November, 3D printing startup Mixee Labs launched Mixee Me, a platform where you can design and 3D print your own likeness in a figurine. We reviewed our 3D printed mini-me in December. Within the first month of launch, Mixee Me was a top 5 shop on Shapeways, and in Time Magazine’s Top 10 3D Printed Gifts of the year.
Now Mixee Labs is expanding with the launch of a web platform where designers can create interactive models of their products for consumers to customize. With each web app, or “creator,” anybody will be able to create unique objects without knowing how to model, and watch them come to life without needing to buy a 3D printer.
Mixee Labs has extended its production partnership with Shapeways, using 3D printing to manufacture these personalized objects on-demand and ship directly to the customers.
As part of the launch, Mixee Labs is featuring Quark Jewelry by Stijn van der Linden, of the studio Virtox. Quark Jewelry’s innovative design draws on the intricate movements of subatomic particles. Stijn has been a leading figure in the 3D printing community. His designs have been featured in the Wired Store and the Today Show.
Below is a gallery of images for Quark Jewelry.
Here is a testimonial by designer Stijn van der Linden.
Ever since I first learned about subatomic particles and their spiral movements in magnetic fields, I could not help but be inspired. The different charges, masses and speeds determine the trajectories and create these astounding images in bubble chambers.
With the arrival of accessible 3d printing, I got to work to capture this beauty in jewelry.
I wrote a piece of software that would trace possible (and impossible) orbits and trajectories in 3 dimensions.
But I had a hard time choosing which models to actually try and print as the variations were endless.
Then a few months ago I got the urge to bring this project back to life and in search for a solution I stumbled upon Mixeelabs.Mixeelabs was working on an online platform that allows designers to easily create web apps which are able to generate 3d printable models! We joined forces and are very proud to present “Quark Jewelry”.
Want to try it out? Here are some links.
Quark Jewelry (3D printed sub-atomic designed jewelry creator)
Mixee Me (3D printed figurine creator)
3D Printing is Now – Perspective of a Dad Entrepreneur
3D Printing is Now, Says Dad Entrepeneur
Australian entrepreneur, and dad, Steve Sammartino shared a great story on his startup blog about 3D printing a piece of jewelry for his 3-year-old daughter. The takeaway is that 3D printing will be ubiquitous in the future, so get started now on your 3D printing venture!
Steve was playing with his desktop 3D printer when his daughter entered the room, so he offered to 3D print her a piece of jewelry. When the 3D print was completed, Steve narrates: “She said “Thanks daddy” and then put it on her wrist and skipped away to get on with her 3 year old life.”
Steve’s insight:
3D printing to her is as ‘normal’ as cars, TV, airplanes, computers and microwave ovens. How can it not be, it was invented before she was born. It’s just another of the thousands of normal everyday thing she is seeing for the time. Nothing more or less special that the other technology in our lives.
But the really significant element is that by the time she is 13 years of age, yourself and every person we know will have a 3D printer. We’ll all be printing things in our homes on a daily basis. And if you think that isn’t possible, let me remind you that every social media channel you currently use today didn’t exist 10 years ago, and we already know how much that changed our social and economic landscape.
Via Start Up Blog.
CC image by jurvetson
Shapeways Offers Premium Silver Material for 3D Printing Fine Objects
3D printing marketplace Shapeways has introduced premium silver material for creating fine jewelry and other long-lasting items.
From the Shapeways blog:
Premium Silver is our 3D printed Sterling Silver taken to the next level with an incredibly smooth, glossy surface to give your designs a truly professional finish. We will be offering Premium Silver for a six week trial until Tuesday May the 14th, during which we will assess the pricing and design rules. If you love this new finish as much as we already do, we will keep it as a permanent material option on Shapeways.
Finished 3D prints are hand polished to give them that professional look.
During the trial, premium silver will be priced as follows:
- Handling Fee Per Model: $45 (up to 1.7 cm3), $78 (1.7 – 3.4 cm3), Free (above 3.4 cm3)
- Price Per cm3: $28 (up to 3.4 cm3), $75 (above 3.4 cm3)
This means:
- 1.0 cm3 item will cost $73.00
- 1.7 cm3 item will cost $92.60
- 1.8 cm3 item will cost $128.40
- 3.4 cm3 item wil cost $173.20
- 3.5 cm3 item will cost $262.50
More details at Shapeways.
Top 3D Printing Headlines Last Week: POTUS SOTU, stocks, TED, Fashion
A roundup of the top news On 3D Printing brought you from February 11 to February 17:
Wednesday, February 13
- President Obama Calls 3D Printing “Revolutionary” in State of the Union
- Details on the 3D Printing Institute from Obama’s SOTU Address
Sunday, February 17
3D Printed Kimberly Ovitz Jewelry Designs Come to Shapeways
3D printing marketplace Shapeways has partnered with Kimberly Ovitz on a new line of 3D printed jewelry.
The designs are inspired by the sleek look of female comic book crime fighters. Ranging from $35 to $95, the designs are available for sale at Shapeways and can be designed to custom fit the customer.
Ovitz’ new line was inspired by the idea of “natural defense,” which in practice means form-fitting jewelry that, in this case, looks like it was lifted right out of a comic book. The Coelom Bracelet and Squama Ring are similar – both wrap around the pointer finger and hand in a delicate spiral, and come in either stainless steel or flexible nylon. The bracelet extends a little further, wrapping around the hand completely before terminating at the wrist. The Thana Earcuff and Spicules Earhook are worn around the ear, and neither require piercings. The Spicules combined with the Prosoma Necklace look like they’d be a pretty solid duo if you’re planning on making the career jump to masked crime-fighter.
Below is a video featuring Kimberly Ovitz designs.
