The Shapeways of Japan, Rinkak Marketplace, Offering New Wood Material Option

Tokyo’s Kabuku Inc. has released a new, wood-like 3D printing material at their Rinkak Marketplace, a 3D creators’ market which applies 3D manufacturing technology to uploaded designs.

Kabuku provides advanced 3D printing solutions for brands to target users, and for academic researchers, and offers an outlet for 3D creators to offer their designs to global consumers through the marketplace.

Kabuku has partnered with Dentsu to work with major brands like The Conran Shop, Calpis, Softbank, Fuji TV, Hakuhodo, and Tokyo University, and they say Rinkak is “the largest 3D creators marketplace in Asia.”

Customers and creators of 3D objects have access through Rinkak Marketplace to high-end manufacturing facilities which fabricate designs for production on demand.

Rinkak says this “wood like” material is made from wood chips and features a warm appearance, but requires that 3D models be built with added thickness compared to prints made with other common materials. The base material begins as a fine powder and a rough texture is left on the surface of the finished object. This new material has a low resistance to water, and is not suitable for products which will be used in wet conditions.

On the other hand, the material can print hollow structures, and Rinkak says that means it can be used to build designs beyond the capabilities of traditional woodworking techniques.

This new material features a brown, natural wood color, and a sandy textural feel. It can be printed in build volumes up to 250 × 250 × 200 mm at minimum thicknesses of 3mm and ships in three to four weeks.

The company says that the material is not as strong as more common materials like ABS and PLA, so it will break if it is dropped or excessive force is applied to the pieces made with it. Rinkak is currently offering discount coupons of 20% off on all the objects and material choices on the site, using the coupon code “WOODLIKE,” through May 31st.

According to Rinkak, 3D creators can begin selling their designs by unloading as little as a single item, and that they hope to “create a bridge between 3D creators and consumers by engaging more advanced production technologies and more unique products.”

Kabuku Inc.and Rinkak also offer the Rinkak 3D Printing Partner Program, a deal which offers a 3D print commission opportunity to members to take advantage of any downtime they might have in their printing schedules.

In case you’re wondering,  the Cellular Vase from London designer Ed Rawle at 14.4cm × 14.4cm × 19.5cm (or 5.66in × 5.66in × 7.67in) retails for just over $300 in the new wood-like material.

Have you registered any of your designs on the Rinkak Marketplace platform? Discuss in the Rinkak forum thread on 3DPB.com.