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Nokia Wants You to 3D Print Your Own Nokia Lumia 820 Case

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News Posted: Fri, Jan 18 2013 12:14 PM
Perhaps a sign that 3D printing technology is edging ever further into the mainstream is that a company like Nokia is using it in a PR stunt. In this case, pun intended, Nokia is releasing 3D templates, case specifications, and handy best practices so that people can print their own Nokia Lumia 820 cases.

The phone’s shell can actually be removed and replaced with others that are ruggedized, or have wireless charging capabilities built in, or what have you, but Nokia has decided that letting users print their own custom shells is a good way to engage its community of users.

Nokia Lumia

For users (with access to a 3D printer), this is nerd-tastic news. For Nokia, it’s also a way to quickly prototype new ideas via crowdsourcing, and the company seems to have a vision for customizable phones. In a Nokia-on-Nokia interview, John Kneeland, a Nokia Community and Developer Marketing Manager, teased some future-looking plans:

In the future, I envision wildly more modular and customizable phones. Perhaps in addition to our own beautifully-designed phones, we could sell some kind of phone template, and entrepreneurs the world over could build a local business on building phones precisely tailored to the needs of his or her local community. You want a waterproof, glow-in-the-dark phone with a bottle-opener and a solar charger? Someone can build it for you—or you can print it yourself!

Nokia already has multiple links up for its 3D printing development kit, which it calls the 3DK. Hit up the links and have at it.
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RWilliams replied on Fri, Jan 18 2013 12:29 PM

This... is awesome. Seriously. Given the fact that phone cases are stupid expensive, 3D printers could really decrease prices in the future - and heck, if you have access to one, it'd be an easy way to make a design that's one of a kind. It's simple, but I think this is a very cool use for 3D printers.

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Dave_HH replied on Fri, Jan 18 2013 5:03 PM

Yeah, great idea and shows that Nokia still is trying to think outside the box.

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sevags replied on Fri, Jan 18 2013 9:35 PM

We have already discussed the use of a 3D printer to print out own custom phone cases, I am not sure why Nokia would have to take part in this at all seeing as it only takes 1 person out there to create the file with dimensions that you download and print. It is nice of Nokia for being the one to do it but anyone in the 3D printing community could do it.

I would be much more interested in Nokia releasing the file to print the actual phone enclosures! Sure it would take a savvy person and probably a voiding of the warranty to remove your phone innards and install it in your printed case but imagine the possibilities. You don't like the color of your lumia? You want a a phone with a BUILT IN case not one you can remove? These are great possibilities but of course Nokia won't help anyone void their warranty willingly.

This is a great start though!

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realneil replied on Fri, Jan 18 2013 9:45 PM

Dave_HH:
Yeah, great idea and shows that Nokia still is trying to think outside the box.

Can you add artwork to a 3D printing job?  (pictures or digital drawings)

 

 

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