All,

I'm in the need of some custom stickers for a shapeways printed puzzle. Having never been through this process before and not seeing a current thread on this topic I figured it best to start a thread so info like this can be collected in one place.

(1) Who offers this service?
(2) What file format do they need?
(3) What software do you use and how do you make this file, without handing out the whole 3D model file?
(4) Any other important factors I'm over looking as I haven't done this before?

Thanks,
Carl

I would contact Oliver Nagy, he has really great services, I just send him a sketch of a face, tell him the edge length and he makes a sticker sheet with stickers offsets and fillets just the right way

Good luck !

1) I would recommend http://www.dr-sticker.com. He is slightly pricier, but the Vinyl he uses is of superior quality and it sticks a little better than Oliver's (which is a big deal when it comes to Shapeways printed puzzles).

2) A DXF, CDR or PDF file would be the most common choise

3) You can easily make stickers using SolidWorks and SolidDraw. This video gives a brief overview of how it is done.

4) Not that I know of.

when I purchased my last set of stickers from Dr. Sticker he said "I am sorry to inform you that Dr. Sticker will be close the entire next year. This is one of the last set of stickers for this year. I hope someone else will be able to help you in the meanwhile." I guess ill have to get them from Oliver or get a sticker cutter of my own.

Gosh darn - I should get my final order in quick then! I've also ordered once from here. Quite cheap and fast but the color availability is limited.

I disagree, Dr. Sticker's stickers are the only ones i've had yet with which even some big stickers fall off easily

really? I have never had a problem with his stickers. Even the tiny ones on my gigahexaminx never fell off and I didn't even use glue on them and I almost did an entire solve on it.

First of all, Thanks Greg to offer my service!

Just a few info about offering custom cut stickers:

Cutting stickers:
I need any kind of file format what I can import to Corel Draw X5 (It knows around 100 different file types) Most commons are: cdr, drw, ai, pdf, dxf,...
Or I need a hand drawn image or a print screen image from your design (jpg for example.)
From these I design the cutting template.
Example:
jpg

cutting template:

(Greg: I hope it is not a problem to publish these file in here)

My main problem with SolidWorks files that it draw the sticker template from separate curves, and not a closed loop what I need for my plotter. (this is the same for any other plotter as well.)
Example:

But of course I can use these files as well. But in this case you work with the template, and me too.

For price I usually ask 3-6 Euro/ set depending on the difficulty. For design I ask extra 2-4 Euro (if it is really very simple like a 3x3x3, I do not ask this).
And the postal fee for my stickers are 4 Euro to Europe, or 6 Euro to the rest of the world (for 1-4 sets of stickers).

I have minimum 14-16 colors always in stock, and I can get many more (more info om my site)

All the service take only few days:
1-2 days design (if it's needed) and 1-3 days to cut. (for just cuted stickers. The manufacture of the printed sticker takes 2-3 weeks)
Posting usually takes 3-10 days to Europe, and maximum 10-20 workdays to the rest of the world.

But of course there are some more company who offer this service, so you need to look around!
(Maybe they will post here to see what are their advantage)

I placed an order at Dr. Sticker on august 20. He replied and I payed the invoice and I still haven't received the stickers. they are taking about a week and a half longer than usual and I e-mailed him about this and he hasn't responded in the past 4 days. I have had my puzzle since Thursday and I cant finish it because I have no stickers. I have a sticker cutter now but I don't want to use my material since I have stickers coming. Has anyone else not been able to contact him?

This pdf I made with SolidWords appears to have closed loops to me.

http://wwwmwww.com/Puzzle/MMSkewb/SMMS_Stickers.PDF

At least I don't see any open gaps between the curves. Is there a way to fix this or any format better to export to then pdf? I have many export options within SolidWorks. Short of that it appears you are willing to do the leg work to fix the problem so for that THANK YOU!!

Carl

Yes, it looks closed, but it is separated, just put very closely next to each other.
Just look at my Example: At the Right bottom corner, I did not pull it apart, and it seems closed, but still it is the same as other corners.

To fix it, I don't know how.
In Corell Draw I can combine 2 nodes, but how to do it with all at once... I don't know!
Many times it is easier to redraw it. (less in time)

That is interesting, because my plotter cuts files exported from SolidWorks (DXF format) in one go. Have you tried using different software?

I have also trying to get in touch with Dr. Sticker with no luck. So yea I dont think its nothing personal

Yes, I have tried 2 different software (excluding CorelDraw), and any time the plotter cuts the lines separately. so the outcome looks terrible.
What kind of software do you use?

Why not hand cut them?