How does Shapeways work Swinks? I assumed it was just your business name.
Basically Shapeways is a 3D printing service that is primary setup in The Netherlands and a second branch in New York. Their 3D printing is on a professional level compared to the home printer market as for example for plastic parts the plastics nylon particles are bound using a laser etc with each machine worth close to the $1 million dollars where my little machine is $3k.
What they have done is allowed designers like myself to have a internet shop so to speak allowing us to display our designs for people to purchase if they want. For most of my models 10-20% of the price is my royalty cheque you could call it and the other 90-80% is Shapeways fee for materials, 3d printing, handling and finishing cost and profit margin.
I have about 70-80 models there so yes I have a internet shop there (which on average might earn $50 a month) amongst probably a few thousand other shops but I don't really do anything apart from the time doing the original design but in all honesty some models do really well as places like Marco or Little Shop of Games, Euro Pinball buy a few select parts and resell them at a higher price, but other designs don't sell at all probably as the price is perceived too high but for the way they are being made it is reasonable and better than no option.
End of the day some people in the past have shown interest but coughed at the freight, the freight is free for a week only but the Aus dollar is crap - so in the end just giving people a chance and hence why I link all pinball parts not just my designs (under the part it will state the designer - for me my designer name is still swinks there).
hope that helps and not worried if no one buys anything just sharing any reasonable offers.
