Thangs acquisition FAQ

1. Does this mean the Shapeways marketplace will not come back?
   • All data was lost in the bankruptcy and the technology that the marketplace ran on was old and not scalable, so we were unable to bring the marketplace back. The acquisition of / partnership with Thangs will provide  previous marketplace users with a timely solution that exceeds the capabilities previously offered in terms of service and IP security.

2. I signed up for the Shop Owner Council, what happens with that?
   • We will contact you shortly. We will create a group of former Shapeways Shopowners and Thangs designers that will be contacted shortly on next steps. Input from both communities is important to the roadmap of Thangs. 

3. Can you transfer my store and or models to Thangs?
   • All model data previously uploaded to Shapeways remained the property of the uploader, not of the defunct entity. Therefore the new management team was not able to obtain this IP as part of the purchase of Shapeways assets from the trustee. If you are a former shopowner of Shapeways and you want to become a creator on Thangs, you would have to upload your models there. Here’s a great place to start.

4. How will I make money on Thangs?
   • Thangs receives well over 20M signed in users per month, many of which are focused on the 3D Printing industry. By attracting the best talent to the platform with IP protection features, collaboration, and automated membership management, it’s become the best place for designers to host their free and commercial 3D models. Shapeways store owners who establish a brand early on and help grow Thangs and Shapeways are more likely to be considered in our joint marketing campaigns and promotional materials.

5. How do I inform my customers that I have moved my sales to Thangs?
   • You can reach out yourself directly via email or via social media to all of your followers and clients and tell them you are moving your content to Thangs.com. If you tag @Thangs3d we will help you get the word out to your following.
   • Shapeways no longer has your client information used in the previous marketplace. Shapeways however does have a generic list of community members that we will inform about our open invite to our former shop owners to set up shop at Thangs. 

6. How long do I need to wait till I can open a shop on Thangs?
   • You can start right away. Sign up at Thangs.com/memberships. If you do not have your own models or plans to start a memberships, open your store as an online portfolio of your designs and link to your website. In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more ways to leverage Thangs as a Shapeways store owner.

7. How long do I need to wait till I can print my own designs via Thangs? 
   • We have tentative plans to release the first Print on Demand button in early 2025. If you are interested in selling digital models, sign up here. If you are interested in migrating your shop to Thangs, join the waitlist and be the first to know once we launch the latest features on Thangs. 

8. How fast is model processing with Thangs?
   • Uploading a model to Thangs depends on the size of the 3D file, but generally happens quite quickly; for most standard models, the upload process should take only a few seconds to a couple of minutes, assuming a stable internet connection. Once an upload initiates, Thangs’ helpful tool tips will walk you through the process of editing your model fields and descriptions. Typically, your model upload will have completed before you’re able to finish the description field. 

9. What file formats does Thangs accept?
   • Thangs currently supports more than 30 3D file formats which can be found here. We also support .dwg and .dxf if you’re into CNC machining. Additionally, common image formats and zip files are supported as well. 

10. Why did you decide to work with Thangs and not with one of its competitors?
    • Re. Shapeways is the engine for digital manufacturing solutions for many different businesses. Thangs is the first consumer 3D business we will be working with. The reason is Thangs is a modern platform, with great 3D tools including IP protection and they truly care about the community and understand it is the community that drives their success. 
    • The integration of Shapeways and Thangs creates new opportunities for both communities. Designers on Thangs will be able to expand their offering beyond digital assets by leveraging Shapeways’ digital manufacturing engine to sell physical products directly to consumers. The combination brings a broader customer base and additional revenue streams to the Thangs community while maintaining the platform’s existing functionality and identity.

If interested in learning more about Thangs or looking for additional information, Check out the FAQ here.