For quite a while now the design world has has been sitting either 'side of a fence' in the never ending argument about 3D printing. But, almost weekly the fence is being broken down by the advent of new 3D printing technologies. Plastics were the first material to fall into the arms of the 3d printer, ever increasing in their detail whilst the cost has plumited but now, metal and ceramics?

Shapeways, a new online based service can offer these services. Farewell to the potters wheel and the limitations of working with clay? Maybe, but it certainly welcomes those 3D designers with technical and artistic skills in software like Creo, Autodesk Inventor, Solidworks, Alias, 3D studio Max, Rhino etc etc.

Have you got a 3D design you want printing in ceramic? The Design Department will fund the cost (within reason) for our own research purposes but, you will get to keep it! Talk to Mr Cann for more information or to submit a design.