Staples to Offer 3D printing Services in New York and Los Angeles Stores

3D printing is a procedure of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. This outstandingly integrated solution substitutes and complements traditional methods of manufacturing as well as reduces the time and cost of designing new products by printing real parts directly.

Recently, Staples (News - Alert) Inc, an office supply retailer, has announced that it signed a new partnership agreement with 3D Systems, a specialist in providing 3D printing centric design-to-manufacturing solutions including 3D printers, print materials and cloud sourced on-demand custom parts.

This new partnership will allow Staples to offer 3D printing services in its New York City and Los Angeles locations. These stores are projected as an immersive 3D printing experience center that helps consumers and small businesses to build personalized products and use 3D printing hardware. Also, customers can bring in their own 3D print-ready files to have them printed.

About a year ago Staples began offering 3D printing services in Europe. Customers so far are primarily small businesses, and Staples is trying to distinguish itself by helping those customers through the entire process.

In addition, Staples has installed a photo booth in each store to help customers capture their facial images for the purpose of personalising 3D products, like figurines, and customers can also print personalised smart phone cases.

Also, each store has an expert from 3D Systems on-site accompanied with trained Copy & Print associates to support and guide customers. The items will be printed on site or through 3D Systems and shipped directly to the customers.

Many experts predict that the 3D technology will soon be useful to architects and jewelry makers, who can run off prototypes or even use the store to manufacture their products.