Shapeways to introduce FXD (Frosted Exreme Detail).

[wcfn100]

Don't know what info is up on the site yet but here's what they say in the email.

Frosted Extreme Detail has a higher resolution than Frosted Ultra Detail, decreasing the layer height from 29 to 16 microns (the shorter the layer, the higher the resolution). While more expensive to produce, thinner layers means unprecedented detail and surface finish, sharper edges, less stepping, and stronger models. It’s perfect for the most demanding miniatures, figurines, and molds and masters for casting.

Oh, this will be available April 15th and Frosted Detail (not the Frosted Ultra Detail - FUD) will disappear by April 14th

Jason

[C855B]

Wonderful news. I have some FUD stuff on my bench that was taking too much effort to clean up. I'll spend the extra bucks for FXD for an A-B comparison and a hopefully better result.

[wcfn100]

Wonderful news. I have some FUD stuff on my bench that was taking too much effort to clean up. I'll spend the extra bucks for FXD for an A-B comparison and a hopefully better result.

Here's the full announcement.

http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=26598&start=0

Jason

[tom mann]

Something like this without example photos?

[wcfn100]

Something like this without example photos?

Or any other specs like wall thickness, escape holes etc...  And of course the big one, price.

edit: If you scroll down there's a comparison pic which I will try to attach.



Jason

[tom mann]

WOW, that is a pretty nice improvement.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Looks like I will hold off on my purchase for a week or two.

[Mark W]

Great news for added detail, but jumping on the speculation train, this material will almost certainly be price prohibitive for anything in bulk.  (Was FUD ever a cheap option itself?)

The average price on my items are $16/unit.  If we apply the same increase in price from FD to FUD for FUD to FXD that adds a little over 5 bucks to each unit. 

If the detail checks out, that's totally worth it for one or two front and center items you can't find anywhere else.

[engineshop]

I don't mind a higher price for a better product. I spent so much time to design it and I hope until it is perfect, there will be a SuperSupperFXD material available.

[Hyperion]

Great news for added detail, but jumping on the speculation train, this material will almost certainly be price prohibitive for anything in bulk.  (Was FUD ever a cheap option itself?)

Agreed.

But, the good news is that, as with any new technology, at some point you hit a wall on the whole 'added features / specifications' bit.  Then you can get to work on the pricing.

At some point -- and we're nearly there -- we will hit a point where there's little added reason to put much work into enginerring more resolution into the technology.  The majority of the market just won't recognize any added benefit from the part being any higher of a resolution.  And then they can tackle getting the price down.

It'll be very interesting whether in 5 years 'injection molding' will even really be a thing anymore in the manufacture of anything hobby-related (things not requiring truly massive quantities and/or very price sensitive)

[Palouse51]

Here's what I see when I do a close inspection of the photo that wcfn100 posted.

The shadow below the desks is slightly soft, and more importantly shows the light is coming from above. The object on the left was printed with horizontal layers (thus catching the light well) and the one on the right has vertical layers. (catching the light less) This would seem to be an intentional effort to use the orientation of the layers and the light to minimize the visibility of the layering on the second object.

While it is clear that there is some improvement, it is also clear to me that this photo is nothing more than an attempt at deception. The improvement is in fact not as dramatic as they would like us to believe. Sharper lighting together with a pair of objects printed in the same orientation, would have allowed us to see much more clearly what level of improvement this change actually amounts to.

Does that sound like I'm being too harsh a judge? Am I wrong? Personally I don't think so.

On the other hand I am glad to see this technology improving. It just would be nice to see a little more honesty.

[peteski]

If the new Shapeways printing method is the same as the one used on ESM's White Tower building then I can say that the "printing" lines are still quite visible. Just a bit finer than the ones in FUD printouts.

[bbussey]

It is the same.  Shapeways' "FXD" designation is their obfuscation of the ProJet3000Plus XHD resolution.  They've apparently upgraded from the 3000 to the 3000Plus, which allows them now to offer the XHD resolution.  It will be comparable to the White Tower and the Keyser Valley Caboose underframe.  However, orientation still matters.  So if they aren't offering the choice of orientation, the results still will be hit and miss.

[lashedup]

@bbussey - Hey Bry do you know which specific printer they are using? Here is their current lineup:

http://www.3dsystems.com/3d-printers/professional/overview

The 3510HD Plus prints down to 15 microns which is pretty good. The 3500HD MAX just gets you a bigger build envelope at higher resolutions but still at 16 microns. Things print much slower at 15 microns resolution though and the orientation is likely still is an issue for some parts. Still if it is 15 microns, that's a really nice improvement.

-j

[bbussey]

They are very tight-lipped there.  I only found out they were using the ProJet3000 my mistake, when they sent me a spreadsheet of all my orders when we were trying to resolve a dispute.  The only reason I found the stainless steel rendering is because someone in customer service at least gave me a clue of what service to look for.  Ownership doesn't want anyone knowing what equipment they use.

The contractor I use in the States uses a ProJet3000Plus.  The Plus line will print the XHD resolution.  I doubt Shapeways is upgrading to a MAX printer.  I suspect they will be utilizing a 3000Plus or a 3500Plus, based on their nomenclature (FUD instead of UHD, FXD instead of XHD).