Hello All,

 You may be interested in a project based on 3D manufacturing we've started. Several folks from various newsgroups have been working on several modular spaceship components, which I hope will enter production in the next few weeks. These parts can be used as bits for conversions, or to build "stand alone" ships from scratch.

You can vote for which modular components should be produced using a doodle poll at http://doodle.com/vax6gcvhpevqnn8i

Once a dozen votes are collected, the selected parts will be revised and will enter "beta" production in 1-2 weeks. Pictures of the candidate components are at http://s871.photobucket.com/albums....tecture

After the selection, the component prototypes will be improved and the components will be sold at:

http://shapeways.com/shops/objects

Note: The pictures are just prototypes. More detail will be added after this vote is used to downselect. They are designed to be manufactured in a variety of Shapeways materials.

Thanks for all the help!

Sample spaceship based on modular design:


Concept ship #3 is a deep space exploration craft. Sporting a #42 prow with #42a weapons attachment, a #48 sensor system, and a #49 shield generator. #33 Maneuver thrusters and a #34 gyroscope provide attitude and docking control. A #35 cargo complex provides ample stores for those long explorations. Propulsion is provided by a #10 engine. Concept 3 weighs in at about 1.9cm^3 for this 5.1cm (2 inch) craft, so Shapeways cost would be about $4.79 in WSF.

_________________
Objects May Appear...
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/objects

I've posted the first batch of "Beta Releases". All available at:
http://tinyurl.com/yhvvb7n

In this batch are components 3, 7, 9, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27, 28, 31, 35, 36, 38, 39, 42, 42a, 42b, 49, 53, and 60.

Structures
A series of "open girder" structural components. They are sized to make 6x6x6mm cubes with the main beams about 1.2 mm wide and the cross beams 1.0mm wide.

Contains:
24 "5-Sided" cubes
8 End squares
4 Angle Pieces

Modules 1: Turrets, Engine, Cube
Contains:
10 Simple Turrets
5 "Rail Gun" Turretts
5 Ring Engines
5 Simple Beveled cubes



Modules 2: Power & Cargo
Contains:
Radiator Section
Solar Panel Section
Tube Cargo Section
Cargo & Crane Section
Sphere Cargo Section
Ring Section


Modules 3: Prows, Rings, RCS
Contains:
1 Railgun Prow
1 Prow w/ towers
1 Spherical Prow
2 Spherical prow guns
1 Ring Cargo Section
1 Solar Section
2 RCS units


Modules 4: Engines, Sensors, Hab Pod
Contains:
1 Spherical "habitat" component
2 Engines
2 Sensor/Shield pods


Modular Panels
Decorated panels in two sizes - 1cm x 1cm x 1mm and 6mm x 6mm x 6mm. The protrusions are 0.2 - 0.4mm thick. Contains 12 "large" and 16 "small" panels. There are 6 unique "large" designs and 6 unique "small" designs, a package includes include 2 of each.

_________________
Objects May Appear...
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/objects