Bitcoin Forum

Hello Collectibles section!

I'll try to keep it as brief as possible and then if there are any questions/interest I will elaborate as much as I can.

On top of being a former BTC miner, a current alt coin miner and general BTC enthusiast I am also a big 3D printing enthusiast.  I have had the pleasure of personally working with plastic, full colour "sandstone" and metal 3D printers.  As a hobby I enjoy designing new and different things.  I recently decided to design a ring for myself not with the intention of wearing it but to display it in my office.

Ok so now we get to why I'm here!  I thought I would see if there was interest in the collectibles crowd for something like this (similar not exactly this one as this design is for personal use).  I thought I would do up a little different design and have 5 or 10 made up as a limited edition.  One of the cool things (I think) about 3D printing for manufacturing collectibles is that it would be quite easy to number them and also "print" into each "part" (ring) an authenticating mark.

There are quite a few material options, bronze, copper, 14/18k gold plated, sterling silver, 14/18k gold, platinum, and a couple more.

Since I have no trust if there is enough interest from trusted members I would a do first edition of gold plated or sterling silver or something.  It could end up being a couple months or more from the time we decided to move forward and I would be fine with escrow.  Escrow would not need to happen until the rings are ready to ship to to you so the coins would only be locked during shipping to you for obvious reasons!

I can not even speculate on price at this point but I hope I can get a quote pretty easy if this goes anywhere.

Provided I don't get laughed out of here or ignored I will be happy to answer any questions about the process, prototyping, who will be manufacturing (it's a large American company, not me LOL), materials, design, display etc.

I'm open to your suggestions as well.

I hope this explains things and I really hope you enjoy it!
  
https://i.imgur.com/9P6a5Mz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ppbw8L6.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/TA7wFkB.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/rjRF2Mo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/boMabm1.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/86fzg3S.jpg

Glad to see you here Flying Hellfish!

This looks real good IMO and I'll be looking forward to see this go into production :). 3D Printing is great and there are a few people here offering different items/services using their skills in the are.

I don't have real feedback as of now without seeing final design and perhaps the price but I'll be following this thread and wish you the best of luck!

Paging salty, make it gold

Could be a great collab :)

Yes, YES and YES!!

Looks nice albeit a little too much for my taste. You could also try modelling the ring (which seems simpler) that Charlie Shrem has on his profile picture: https://twitter.com/CharlieShrem. +1 for silver and gold.

I was definitely thinking about it potentially being a little "gawdy" lol.  I did sorta have a "super bowl" style ring as my inspiration and may have gotten a little carried away with the size of the heads on the side!

Charlies rings would be relatively easy to model.  Being that this is a hobby to me I'm not sure about infringing on someone else's work.  I understand the BTC logo is free use but I assume I couldn't outright copy his ring?

Perhaps a cat nuzzled up to a BTC would be more your style eh?  :)

I can do more than one design and I'd like to so I'll see what else folks have to say and go from there.

Thanks,
FH

Well, unless you copy the body of the ring 1:1 I don't think it would be 'stolen'. It's essentially just a ring with a BTC logo slapped on it, and I'm sure we will see more of those (available commercially) in the future.

Well. :P

I wouldnt wear it but i would use it as a wax seal for sure. If the plastic wont melt ofc

Very interesting concept. Ever consider doing this in silver or stainless steel? What would these sell at?

That is Hot. I love the bull/bear heads.

This is one of those things that must be gold

I would definitly be interested in getting one

if this isnt worn on the thumb, ouch

EDIT: Or baller pinky ring

Cool new ideas here, and good to see.

I would definitely be interested in a simple pinkie ring made of 925 silver with the bitcoin logo, similar to the one Charlie Shrem wears.

Maybe stamp a small bull on one side and a bear on the other?

Very neat to see another 3D printer/CAD enthusiast!  I've been running a 3D Printing/Design service for some time and have designed some custom items for users around here - ★ Digis 3D Printing / Design Service ★ -= Crypto, Logos, Figurines, Custom Parts (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1672020.0).   :)

Although I'd love to hop onto the exotic material printing bandwagon, I haven't seen much progress or actually finished pieces (asides from CAD drawings) that match the level of detail and quality required to produce a part that competes with standard manufacturing practices.  

Do you happen to have any photos or samples of finished pieces you've created in exotic materials (bronze, copper, 14/18k gold plated, sterling silver, 14/18k gold, platinum)?

Awesome stuff man, the first printer I ever owned back in 2012 or maybe 13 was a wood framed makerbot, I wish I still had it LOL!  I spent hours tinkering with the old girl, but I don't have pics from then.

I then moved on to working on a full colour powderbed 3D printer (projet 660) I was involved with some friends who started a 3D selfie business on the side.  This is where I learned the bulk of my CAD skills as I did all the digital post processing of the raw scans to get them print ready!  Printing in 1 or 2 colours is awesome but printing in 6 million colours (full CMYK) and adding texture maps to the models takes it to a whole new level and I learned an unbelievable amount during the companies short life span.

Here is a press release from a national news spot on the company from back in 2014.
https://globalnews.ca/video/1327703/new-company-offering-3d-selfies

My current work with 3D printing is with a client who has the 2 largest DMLS (powderbed laser metal 3D printing, true additive manufacturing) machines in Canada.  They are a tool and die company that is a T1 automotive supplier.  They print exclusively in maraging steel (MS1) and according to my client they are revolutionizing the large high pressure die cast world by adding in conformal cooling to die cavities.  These conformal cooling lines are impossible with traditional manufacturing process.  I am not allowed as you can imagine to share any of that proprietary work here.

I have not printed in any of the precious material before and I wouldn't be the one doing it.  I would upload my designs to Shapeways and have them do it.  This way I have a lot more confidence that the quality of the metal is what it is supposed to be.

I guess at this point I should mention the process a company like Shapeways uses for "3D printing" various metal materials.

3D printed precious metals usually use what is called a loss wax cast method, which allows for high precision jewelry. I guess it may be a bit misleading as the end product is not printed but it is cast.  Basically a high resolution 3D printer creates the model in wax.  Then liquid plaster is poured around the wax model.  Once the plaster sets the wax is melted out in an oven and you are left with a nice one time use mould.  Base metal is poured into the mould and then broken away to leave the cast of the original model!  It can then be plated or polished or any other post processing technique desired.

I haven't got any example of my own work done like this because I haven't done any yet.  I am going to though because it's just to cool not to LOL! I will update the thread with the first piece I do, show the design and when I get the finished product back will do a review and post some pictures.  I think even if I don't sell any enough folks will be interested to see it!

Check out Shapeways to see tons examples of jewelry created this way, the detail and finish appears to be high quality.  But as you know yourself there are limitations on minimum sizes so stuff doesn't break during post, shipping, use etc etc!

Now back to some of the actual questions LOL

I would do it in any material the manufacture is offering.  I don't have a stainless option currently.  They do have a .925 sterling silver option but not a .999 option.

For the other design questions I will do up a few more designs and see what people think.  Originally I had thought of a display piece but if people want something to wear I can handle that!

I'll update with more design pics when I have them.

New design, for the more minimalist crowd!

I am going to get a quote to manufacture this design in a couple of materials.  If the cost seems reasonable I will get a couple made so I have something physical to show!

Also going to start work on additional designs while I wait for pricing and possibly manufacturing.

Oh and lastly of the 4 freaking pieces of CAD software I use not one of them had an actual silver material...  I ended up having to use a gloss plastic material with a silver paint on it.  The result is not what I would call a realistic representation but it's about as close as I can get!

https://i.imgur.com/xcFSlDz.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pHPQXf8.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/jpnJHWJ.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/bJHUHb9.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/ujf6JQr.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/0uZiVco.jpg

I’d be honored to be bitch-slapped by that first pinky ring,

Now THIS raises a serious quandry... would you be willing to create a version with a mirrored BTC?

So that the mark left on the opposing party after such a bitch-slap would be a welt in a normal/legible facing BTC direction...

Oh and out of titanium perhaps?

I would be willing to do whatever you want!!!  As they say BTC talks and bullshit walks.  It would be an honour to have designed and sold the official BTC bitch slapping ring!  I might even name the piece that if it's all good with you 2!

Out of titanium, sure see above!

As a little update:

I had to do a few minor tweeks to the Bitcoin Bull & Bear design.  There were too many small parts that likely wouldn't survive the manufacturing process.
1:  Re-positioned the bulls horns to be "pinned/supported" by the ring body.
2:  Increased size of bull nose ring and "pinned" it to bulls head
3:  Removed the world map from under the  BTC logo.  Central America, Japan and a whole bunch of locations
     were way to small when scaled down to ring size.  I would have had to make them bigger and it looked
     weird when I started to fix it so I scraped it instead.
4:  Closed Bears mouth.  The teeth were to small, rather than removing them completely I closed the mouth
     slightly and merged the teeth together for proper support.

https://i.imgur.com/WFfBVCz.jpg

I went ahead and got a quote for manufacturing both rings.  After reviewing the quote I went ahead and ordered 2 of each of the rings.  I ordered a premium polished sterling silver (.925) and 18k gold plated for each style.

Eta I was given is end of May for me to have them.  You can be sure when I get them I will post pics for review.  If they are good quality I will probably offer them for sale.  The manufacture has the ability for the artists to set up an e-store on their site, I may look into that and offer direct BTC sales here.

I am going to do some more designs, I have a bunch of ideas floating around my brain now!
I think one of the next designs might include HODL somewhere!!!
Also please throw out any other suggestions you might like to see incorporated in future designs, please!!!!!

The over the top bull and bear ring looks unwearable with the side projections much prefer the minimalist design in white or yellow 14K gold.

It wasn't designed to wear, more of something to put in a box and display on my desk. 

The other design will probably be available once I have the first piece back and I make sure I like it.  Options if manufacturing looks good would be 14k gold (yellow/white/rose) and 18k gold (yellow only).  A .925 silver option would also be available.

I have a couple pieces being manufactured so I will show the physical examples once I have them.

OT, Perhaps collectibles isn't the right board for my thread?

I really like the "minimalist" design, because as other users have said we're walking a thin line between "gawdy" and "superbowl". That being said, the minimalist design feels like it is still missing something for my taste. I like the bull and bear faces on the side, but I am wondering if it would be possible to make those an indentation, or like a "brand" style icon, rather than a bulging outward segment. That would be extremely cool, and once you have a better idea on price please share what you're thinking. I want a ring, but I don't want to break the bank in order to grab myself one. Since it's plated, it shouldn't be too bad.

I would certainly buy one if I don't have to drop absurd amounts of money, but a few tweaks on the design would be optimal. It would be cool to allow customization for maybe a couple of different styles, but I'm not sure how feasible that would be for fulfilling orders.

You mention that it wasn't designed to be worn, but could that be accomodated? I would much rather have the versatility of being able to wear the ring, rather than it simply only having the ability to sit on a desk. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but if possible it would be nice to act a fool with my ring on.

Hey Bill thanks a lot for the feedback it is greatly appreciated.  I'm not a jewelry designer so this kind of stuff is super helpful.

I am working on a design similar to what you and a couple others have asked about and others I in time.  I also have a couple of prototypes coming so I can check quality, so please check back in once and a while please!

One of the cool things I think about the 3D printed jewelry is the ability to customize each product.  Having a "unique" ring each time does not increase manufacturing cost at all.  Anything that can fit on the ring, inside or out can be made into a model and placed on the ring digitally before production.  Each ring has its own one time use mould so if the rings are the same or slightly different it doesn't matter.  Things like , names, signatures or saying, numbers etc can be modeled into the band easily and printed for each customer.  Things like logos or even some pictures (faces, pets etc) can usually be quickly turned into digital models and placed on the a ring model before production.  It would take a little additional CAD time but nothing to crazy for most cases.

As this is a hobby for me I will update with examples as I can and once I have prototypes back and quality is good I can then talk about price etc.  But like you say plated or sterling options definitely won't break the bank (of the average Bitcoin Whale  ;) )

Couple of new designs.  Stamped Bull head or raised Bull head.  I changed it to a "BTC Bull Signet".  For now the Bear head kinda beat me up LOL.  I couldn't get it to match the "logo" style of the Bull and I spent a bunch of time screwing around with it but in the end I didn't like the results.  I may go back to it in the future but for now I just have a Bull on both sides to offer.

I have to confirm printability with the manufacture and once I do I will order a couple samples for everyone to see!

Hope you enjoy.  I am working on more designs, this is turning out to be quite fun!

https://i.imgur.com/UBBF0YF.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/s4LSjdO.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/uhHnK9T.jpg

Now that new ring design looks like it would be much more comfortable for the fingers once worn.

I like it. Do you have any idea on metal to be used and prices?  Thanks! :D

I like em.  Will keep checking back on this thread.

I do have a little more info to share!

The first two designs have been uploaded to my shapeways store (link below)

The BTC Signet is available in
Silver - premium and polished
14k Gold - Yellow, White, Rose
18k Gold - Yellow
14k Gold Plated - Yellow, Rose
18k Gold Plated - Yellow
Rhodium Plated
Platinum
Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel are $25.00 USD
Gold Plated (14k and 18k) are $49.95
Polished Silver is $55.00
Premium Silver is $65.00

Full pricing available at my estore:  https://www.shapeways.com/shops/flying-hellfish

Please Note:  I have Silver and plated prototypes being manufactured.  If you buy a ring now your are basically buying a prototype.  It is probably best to wait until I have physical examples to display.

The shop is brand new nothing fancy at all yet, I will work on it as I get some time.

The latest 2 designs (Stamped or Raised BTC Bull Signet) will be upload to the shop as soon as I get some time!

Stay tuned more to come!  I wish the shop looked better and I had more time but this is a hobby so I can only get so much done in my free time!  Thanks for reading!!

FH

Thanks for the comprehensive information and very neat technology I'd say!  Looking forward to seeing the first physical prototype.   8)

Ya I can't wait to see them either.  I'm hoping everything goes smooth on manufacturing side and I get them in a couple of weeks!

I will buy one tomorrow if you add the bear and bull one similar to BTC Bull Signet E (https://www.shapeways.com/product/LK7M8DSAX/btc-bull-signet-e?optionId=65436994).

I need to figure out my ring sizing...

Good luck with the project. Will be buying BTC Signet once in stock.

Awesome, thanks for your support!

Anyone needing some sizing information here is the wiki for ring sizes and it has diameter and circumference measurements that correspond to a size.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_size

Keep checking back I have more designs coming!   

I opened a new thread in the goods section:  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3763219.0

So I will lock this one up for now. 

Thanks for all the comments everyone!