Shapeways Loco Shell Issue

[BCR751]

I have a couple of shells from Shapeways and have an issue with one in particular.

Prior to the Bestine soak, this shell looked fine.  I let it soak for 2 days.  When I removed it, washed it with warm water and mild detergent and let it dry, both sides warped outward badly.  I immersed the shell in hot water to soften the resin, which worked, and then blocked it using wood "splints" and small clamps.  When it was dry, I removed the blocking and the sides immediately warped out again.  I re-did the hot water bath but this time, once I had the sides correctly repositioned by hand, I immediately ran cold water over the shell to re-harden the resin.  The sides remained in the correct position temporarily but as soon as the shell was completely dry, it warped again. 

I'm at a loss as to how to deal with this issue.  Anyone else had a similar problem and, if so, how did you deal with it?

Doug

[Kisatchie]

 

I'm at a loss as to how to deal with this issue.  Anyone else had a similar problem and, if so, how did you deal with it?

Hmm... I deal with it by
never buying anything
from Shapeways...

[peteski]

I wonder if the 2-day soak in Bestine had something to do with it.  You aren't supposed to pickle this shells - just dissolve the wax.  Maybe try a little shorter time - like 1 hour and some scrubbing (if needed)?

[sd45elect2000]

I've left them in the Bestine for better than a week without issues. I wonder if the prints become porous and absorb the water? I wet sand my shells and I have had some distort like that but usually they straighten out when I band the to a floor or something. I'm not sure on this one..


Randy

[eric220]

AFAIK, you don't need to wash after the Bestine bath. Might want to skip that step next time.

I had a Shapeways part warped on arrival. I contacted their customer service, and they sent me a new part.

[Jamesn320]

Hi,

The reason for warping can be cased by several things so it is hard to pin it down and say do this an it will fix it but your approach of heating and cooling is correct, well it has worked for me.  Most of the time what you have done fixes the issue but now and again I find that some items naturally want to bend or warp to a position just past where they should be, so once I have heated them, normal with water from he kettle, I bend them back to where they should be then past that point by the same amount and hold it.  As it cools and hardens it holds the new shape.  Left over night it can creep back and hopefully end up where it should be.

I hope that helps.

-James

[Chris333]

I wonder if it is large thin walls that warp?

[bbussey]

AFAIK, you don't need to wash after the Bestine bath. Might want to skip that step next time.

Agreed.  No need to do anything after the Bestine soak other than let it air-dry.  I've left delicate parts to soak in  Bestine for many days with no damage.  It wasn't the Bestine that caused the warping.

[Chris333]

Shapeways uses water on FUD before shipping:

[sd45elect2000]

Shapeways uses water on FUD before shipping:

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Yes , but the parts are still full of wax. When the wax is stripped are they more susceptible to absorption?

[up1950s]

So that's how my belly got the bulge , it's wasn't the pasta , it was the water in the pasta .

[BCR751]

I followed Jamesn320's method and managed to get the offending shell back to it's original shape.  I re-heated it in hot water then, as it was drying, I kept pushing the sides inward with my fingers.  I pushed them in further than they are supposed to go and when it was completely dry, the sides were in the correct alignment.  Thanks, James.   

Looking at the Shapeways site, I see that shell is no longer available.  Whew !  Definitely dodged a bullet there.

Doug

[Jamesn320]

I followed Jamesn320's method and managed to get the offending shell back to it's original shape.  I re-heated it in hot water then, as it was drying, I kept pushing the sides inward with my fingers.  I pushed them in further than they are supposed to go and when it was completely dry, the sides were in the correct alignment.  Thanks, James.   

Looking at the Shapeways site, I see that shell is no longer available.  Whew !  Definitely dodged a bullet there.

Doug

Hi Doug,

I'm pleased it worked. 

-James

[Kisatchie]

So that's how my belly got the bulge , it's wasn't the pasta , it was the water in the pasta .

So that's why I'm so fat. I'd better cut out the water and drink more beer.



Hmm... Hey Kiz, bananas
are fattening... leave 'em
for me...