Category: Updates

Welcome to the latest update from Layers.app, where we’re continuously evolving to meet the needs of the 3D printing community. In this release, we’re excited to introduce several new features and improvements designed to streamline your workflow and enhance communication.

Manual Quotation Feature

Many 3D printing service customers lack 3D models and require additional services such as 3D design or 3D scanning. Studies show that 20-50% of 3D printing customers fall into this category. Additionally, some 3D printing services prefer not to accept orders without accurate assessments of the 3D model to ensure its printability. In the new version of Layers.app, customers can either upload their 3D model to receive an online automatic price quotation or fill in a price request form to send an inquiry for a quotation. Filled forms can now be received in the newly added “Conversation” section on the admin side.

This enhancement not only improves the customer conversion rate but also empowers workshops to generate new online leads through Layers.app.

File Error and Failed Print can be handled from now-on

In July 2024, we introduced another important feature that enhances the communication between workshops, customers, and admins. This new capability allows workshops to change the order status to “File Error” or “Failed Print.” By doing so, workshops can effectively inform both customers and admins about issues related to the 3D model files or printing failures. This transparent communication ensures that all parties are aware of any problems that arise, facilitating quicker resolutions and improving overall service quality.

Enhancements and bug fixing

One of the highly requested features was the ability to clone materials. This feature has been added to Layers in this update, allowing you to duplicate your materials or colors along with all their inherited settings. This is a significant time-saver, especially during the onboarding process.

This month, we also revamped the search feature on the admin side, enhancing the functionality for both order searches and user searches.

Your Input Matters: Tell Us What You Think

As we roll out these exciting new features, we want to hear from you! Your feedback is invaluable in helping us continue to enhance Layers.app and tailor our updates to your needs. Whether it’s sharing your experience with the new Manual Quotation Feature, how the File Error and Failed Print management impacts your workflow, or suggestions for further improvements, we encourage you to reach out.

Please don’t hesitate to provide your thoughts or submit feature requests. We welcome your input and are dedicated to making Layers.app the best tool for your 3D printing needs. Thank you for being a part of our community and for helping us shape the future of 3D printing solutions.

In this new update, we’ve added many features that our users and customers highly requested. The ability to upload different 3D formats, quantity discount (tier pricing), and numerous bug fixes are major changes that have been added to Layers.app.

Rich 3D Format Support

Users can now upload a variety of 3D file formats, enhancing the flexibility and usability of our application for different types of 3D projects. This feature supports a wide range of popular formats, ensuring that you can work seamlessly with your preferred 3D models:

 

.STL: Commonly used for 3D printing, the STL (Stereolithography) format is supported, allowing precise and high-quality printing preparations.

 

.OBJ: The OBJ format, known for its versatility and ability to store complex models with texture information, is now fully supported.

 

.STEP (.stp): For those in engineering and CAD design, the STEP format enables the exchange of data between different CAD systems.

 

.IGES (.igs): Another essential format for CAD users, IGES support ensures that you can import and export your detailed models with ease.

 

.3MF: The 3MF (3D Manufacturing Format) is designed for modern 3D printing applications, offering more detailed model information.

 

.3DS: The 3DS format, popular in 3D modeling and animation, is supported, making it easier to incorporate detailed and animated models.

 

.PLY: The Polygon File Format, often used for 3D scanning, is now supported, enabling high-quality 3D scans to be imported directly.

 

.OFF: The Object File Format, used for storing geometric data, is included, supporting a variety of scientific and educational applications.

 

.GLB: The GLB (Binary glTF) format, known for its efficiency in transmitting 3D models over the web, is fully supported.

 

.ZIP: For convenience, you can now upload ZIP files containing multiple models, streamlining the process of managing and importing complex projects.

 

These enhancements make it easier than ever to bring your existing 3D assets into Layers.app, regardless of the file format.

This new feature is available on both the admin and customer sides of the product. It is accessible to users on the Free, Business, and Enterprise plans.

 

Tier pricing in 3D printing service

In the 3D printing industry, tier pricing is not just a pricing strategy; it’s a vital component of business operations that addresses the unique dynamics of this market. Many clients, especially in industries like manufacturing, engineering, and healthcare, require large quantities of printed parts. Tier pricing makes it feasible for these clients to choose 3D printing over traditional manufacturing methods.

In the new version of Layers.app you can handle quantity discounts for each material and color. By using this feature, you can inform your customers about the discounts available based on the quantity of specific materials they purchase.

This feature is available on both the admin and customer sides and is included in the Free, Business, and Enterprise plans.

The default theme for your 3D shop

Ensuring consistency between the 3D printing service website and the ordering platform is a crucial aspect of branding for a 3D printing business. To enhance this consistency, we’ve introduced a new feature that allows an admin to select a default dark or light theme for the shop.

Bug fixes

Download 3D Models with Original Name: We have resolved an issue where downloaded 3D models would not retain their original filenames. Now, all models will be downloaded with their original names, ensuring better organization and traceability for users.

Stripe Bug Fix in Iframe: Fixed an issue where the Stripe payment processing iframe was not functioning correctly. This fix ensures that all transactions are processed smoothly and securely without errors.

Edited Price in PDF: Corrected a bug where edited prices were not reflected correctly in the generated PDF documents. This ensures that all price adjustments are accurately captured and displayed in your documentation.

Tax Enhancement: Enhanced the tax calculation feature to provide more accurate and detailed tax breakdowns. This improvement helps users better understand their tax liabilities and ensures compliance with local tax regulations.

The latest update, V1.10.1, primarily centered on eliminating various glitches and bugs within the product. This update brings several enhancements, including the option to include a tax code on the PDF invoice, the ability to delete created roles in the roll and permission section, as well as a refactoring of the roll and permission functionalities. Additionally, performance improvements have been made to the automatic invoicing system.

Stripe Integration

In our latest update (V1.10.1), we’ve fundamentally refactored the Stripe Integration, addressing numerous bug reports regarding transaction errors and 3D security problems. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Our team has dedicated significant effort to improving this crucial integration for seamless shop functionality. Your feedback on working with Stripe is highly valued, and we would greatly appreciate any insights you can provide.

Credit System

Payment options are a critical aspect of the user experience for 3D printing services. Our UX team’s analysis of customer reviews reveals a key trend: many customers prefer to split their payments into two or more installments. Ideally, they’d like the final payment to occur after receiving and inspecting the product for quality. This preference, however, creates challenges in managing payments and ensuring accurate transactions.

We’ve implemented a credit system designed to revolutionize payment flexibility for your 3D printing service. This layered system revolves around user wallets that can be topped up, depleted based on order value, and even managed directly by you, the shop owner.

Here’s how it works: Each user has a dedicated wallet within our platform. When placing an order, users can choose to pay with their existing credit balance, top up their wallet for the specific order amount, or utilize a combination of both approaches. This system offers greater control for both you and your customers. Additionally, you have the power to add or subtract credit from individual user wallets as needed, allowing you to manage credit as desired.

One of the notable additions in this update is the enhancement of payment-related functionalities, particularly the introduction of the Transactions and Credit sections. With this update, you can leverage your shop’s credit system to streamline payments for your 3D printing service orders. Easily track your users’ transactions, top up their wallets with credit, and efficiently manage intricate multiple payments—a necessity in the manufacturing sector.

Other enhancements

This update brings several enhancements, including the option to include a tax code on the PDF invoice, the ability to delete created roles in the role and permission section, as well as a refactoring of the roll and permission functionalities. Additionally, performance improvements have been made to the automatic invoicing system.

We’ve got some awesome updates to share that’ll make your 3d printing experience even smoother. We’re talking accurate FDM cost estimates, easier invoicing, and improved communication – all rolled into one! Get ready to level up your printing game!

Precise 3D Printing Service Quotes with Infill Control

We’re excited to announce infill percentage control, a highly requested feature by our active users! This empowers both admins and customers to achieve accurate price quotations for FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D prints.

• Admins: Set precise infill percentages for models, ensuring consistent pricing and material usage.
• Customers: Calculate estimated print costs based on your preferred infill density before placing an order.

This update brings transparency and control to the FDM printing process for everyone involved.

Streamlined Invoicing and Order Sharing:

• Generate PDF invoices with a single click! Admins can now easily create professional invoices for specific orders, ensuring clear communication with customers. To generate a PDF invoice:

go to: https://layers.app/admin/orders

Click on the “Order more info” button:

 

 

On the “Order more info” page:

click on the “Financial Details” tab.

On the new tab:

scroll to the “PDF Invoice” section and click on the “Generate PDF invoice” button:

 

 

• Sharing just got simpler. Sharing is now simpler than ever. Each order has a unique address that can be seen in the address bar by opening the order. Admins can send a unique Invoice URL to customers or colleagues, granting them easy access to order details.

The Layers.app team is a passionate bunch, and we’re constantly striving to improve the platform based on your valuable feedback. So, Let us know what you think of these new features, and feel free to share any suggestions you might have.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the newfound control and streamlined communication these updates bring. Happy printing!