FAQs

Customers
General
Production
Products
Processes & Orders
Prices & Payment
Designers
General
Designs
Processes & Orders
Prices & Payment
Manufacturers
General
Profile & Registration
Designs & Orders
Production
Conclusion of Contracts & Shipping
Prices & Payment
Customers
General
What exactly is mything?
mything operates an online platform where designers from all over the world can upload their unique 2D and 3D designs for trendy jewelry pieces, cool accessories, home decorations or handy gadgets. These will then be 3D printed or produced with laser cutting techniques by a manufacturer near you. What's more, you can personalize them with a name, a message or, on selected items, even an image.
What is mything’s vision?
"Making everyone benefit from 3D printing."

Currently, many goods are produced centrally in factories (e.g. in the Middle East and Far East) and shipped around the globe to the buyers. This not only leads to high costs for manufacturers and customers (warehousing and transport), but also results in deliveries over long distances with the additional harm this brings to the environment, and long delivery times. Production in foreign countries also means no value is generated locally (in the buyer’s region).

In future, only the 3D data of products will be sent around the world. Production itself will be performed locally by a company near the buyer. This leads to much lower costs thanks to shorter delivery distances, shorter turnaround times, less pollution and material wastage, and – very important – local value creation. To realize this vision, a marketplace is required that brings buyers, data creators (designers) and local makers together. mything will be this marketplace.
Who designs the products?
Designers from all over the world are registered on mything. That means that you not only find expertly and professionally designed 2D and 3D articles on mything, but also that they cover many different styles and add international flair to your home. On the corresponding product details page you will find information about the item itself under each design, plus, of course, information about the designer.
I don’t live in Austria. Can I still order items from mything?
In the first phase we are concentrating on manufacturers in Austria which means that products can only be picked up in Austria. We plan to expand into other European countries in future. In the meantime you can of course order items on mything and they will be sent to you. In future we plan to ship worldwide, but unfortunately that is not yet possible.
I live in Germany. Is it still possible for me to pick up articles from a manufacturer?
In the first phase we are concentrating on manufacturers in Austria which means that products can only be picked up in Austria. But during 2018 we plan to build up a network of manufacturers in Germany and then our German customers will also be able to collect their purchases themselves. In the meantime you can of course order items on mything and they will be sent to you in Germany.
On average, how long must I wait for delivery of a product I have ordered?
How long it takes to make an article varies greatly according to the production technology.

Laser cutting, for instance, is a technology that produces cut articles very quickly. However, production time can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer depending on how busy he or she is. On average, though, you can expect production to take 1–3 days.

With 3D printing, on the other hand, production time depends chiefly on the printing technology used to implement the design. There are fast techniques with which production is possible in a short period of time (1–3 days), whereas other 3D printing techniques are more complex and therefore require more time (1–2 weeks).

So you know when you’ll receive your product when you place the order, we will show you the probable completion date (including, on request, the approximate delivery time) during the ordering process.
Production
How are the products made?
All the items on mything are produced using digital fabrication. This is production techniques in which the equipment used is controlled by a computer. In our case, the techniques are either 3D printing or laser cutting.

In 3D printing, objects are built up layer by layer (usually using plastic, but an increasing number of other options are becoming available such as ceramics, metal or glass). In laser cutting, shapes are cut out of material (e.g. wood, cardboard, felt etc.) or the top layer is burned away (similar to engraving).
What is 3D printing?
The term 3D printing is used for many different technologies that concern automatic-machine production of objects from materials in liquid or powder form.

The objects are created using so-called CAD programs (or else real objects are 3D scanned) and this data is then sent to professional manufacturers who produce the articles.

3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing because the objects are pieced together layer by layer rather than carved out of a larger work piece (as in work with wood, for instance).
Can I tell that the article was 3D printed?
That very much depends on the type of 3D production. On the platform we show the items in such a way that you clearly see what the finished article will look like.
What is laser cutting?
In laser cutting, objects are, as the name suggests, cut out of a material (e.g. acrylic, wood, cardboard, felt etc.) with a laser. However, the laser can not just cut; it can also strip away (burn away) the material’s top layer, which produces an effect similar to engraving. In this way messages or entire images can be "engraved", depending on the object.
Can I tell that the article was laser cut?
That very much depends on the type of material used. On cardboard, but especially on wood, burn marks may be visible, or the edges may be a darker color. These marks are unavoidable owing to the nature of laser cutting because material is “burnt away” by the heat. On felt, the edges are only harder (due to a brief melting process). On acrylic, virtually no burn marks are visible, so it looks as though the material was cut in the conventional way.

It is possible that laser-cut items may smell a little directly after production. That’s perfectly normal and usually wears off soon afterward. In the case of washable materials (such as acrylic) you can speed up this process a little by wiping the item with a damp cloth. But be sure only to use a clean and soft cloth to avoid scratches.
What materials and colors are available with 3D printing?
The materials and colors available for 3D-printed articles depend on the article itself because different 3D printing techniques are used depending on the object’s size, design and complexity. That means that the range of materials and colors also varies, since it differs from one technique to another.

It is of course possible that your favorite color or the material you would like is not yet on offer. However, we are constantly adding to our network of manufacturers and thereby increasing the number of printing techniques to choose from. So you’ll find an ever wider selection of materials and colors on mything as time goes by.

One thing you can do, though, is filter your search for your "mything" according to color and material so you narrow down the options and are only shown those articles that suit you.
What materials and colors are available with laser cutting?
The materials and colors available for laser-cut items depend on the article itself. It is not possible to use every design with every material, and this means that the range of colors varies because they differ according to the material chosen.

It is of course possible that your favorite color or the material you would like is not yet on offer. However, we are constantly adding to our range of materials and colors.

One thing you can do, though, is filter your search for your "mything" according to color and material so you narrow down the options and are only shown those articles that suit you.
Does 3D printing harm the environment?
It is of course also important to us that the production is as sustainable as possible and that’s why we work exclusively with professional manufacturers rather than amateurs because with professionals the environmental impact caused by rejects (waste or recycling measures) and unnecessary energy consumption (thanks to more efficient use of machinery) is generally lower.

That said, mything’s concept has three major benefits for the environment. First, the impact of transportation is of course far lower because the manufacturer is in the same locality as you. There is no overproduction because items are only made to order, i.e. on demand. Another fact that should not be underestimated is that companies in Austria, Germany and most other European countries must fulfill stricter environmental requirements than the huge factories in the Far East that still provide the majority of our daily goods. It is this that drives us on! We want to bring production that currently takes place in distant lands back to our own region. That is good and important, not just for the environment!
Does laser cutting harm the environment?
It is of course also important to us that the production is as sustainable as possible and that’s why we work exclusively with professional manufacturers rather than amateurs because with professionals the environmental impact caused by rejects (waste or recycling measures) and unnecessary energy consumption (thanks to more efficient use of machinery) is generally lower.

That said, mything’s concept has three major benefits for the environment. First, the impact of transportation is of course far lower because the manufacturer is in the same locality as you. There is no overproduction because items are only made to order, i.e. on demand. Another fact that should not be underestimated is that companies in Austria, Germany and most other European countries must fulfill stricter environmental requirements than the huge factories in the Far East that still provide the majority of our daily goods. It is this that drives us on! We want to bring production that currently takes place in distant lands back to our own region. That is good and important, not just for the environment!
Do the materials pose a health risk?
3D-printed and laser-cut articles do not pose a health risk. Nevertheless, we recommend keeping them out of the reach of small children who may put them in their mouths.
On the other hand, the items are ideally suited as toys for older children.
Products
Why are most of the items only available in plastic?
The materials and colors available for the items depend on the article itself. For laser cutting, a wide selection of materials is available, but for 3D-printed items the focus is still very much on plastic. This is due to the production technique. Most professional manufacturers use techniques that cannot work with other materials. However, we are constantly expanding our network of manufacturers and are therefore adding new printing techniques. So you’ll find an ever wider selection of materials and colors on mything as time goes by. For example, we are planning to add a variety of metals (including precious metals such as gold and silver) and ceramics.
Are the items washable or dishwasher-proof?
All plastic articles can be washed by hand in lukewarm water, but may not be dishwasher-proof (washing with a detergent at high temperatures). The high temperatures in a dishwasher may distort the shape of the article, and dishwashing liquid (which acts on an item for a long time in the course of a wash cycle) may tarnish the surface.
Are the items suitable for outdoor use?
This of course depends very much of the type of object and the material it’s made of. It also depends on what you mean exactly by "suitable for outdoor use". Generally, though, most 3D-printed objects are not designed for long exposure to sunlight and rain. This may alter their color or shape.

In locations that are sheltered from sunlight and weathering, the articles should not be damaged in any way, but we really can’t give a general guarantee because the items on mything are simply too diverse. So as a rule we recommend using all 3D-printed and laser-cut articles indoors only and protecting them from direct sunlight (e.g. in a sunroom) and high temperatures (e.g. near a fire) so you can enjoy them for as long as possible.
Processes & Orders
As a customer, can I have an article made that I’ve designed myself?
End customers cannot upload designs to be produced. But if you design 3D-printable or laser-cut objects we would be pleased if you were to register on our platform as a designer.
This enables you to upload your own designs and then order them using your end-customer account once they have been made. This also gives you the opportunity to make your design available to other end customers and to earn money with your creations. Become a designer
I have an idea for an article. Can you make it for me?
mything does not offer a design service, but you can browse through the constantly growing range of articles on our platform and look for similar designs. In future our website will provide the opportunity to chat to designers. In the meantime we ask you to be patient.
Can I get an item gift-wrapped?
It goes without saying that we’d like to offer this service in future, and we’re working on it. Currently, though, we’re afraid it’s not possible.
Where are the manufacturers?
In this first phase we’ve been able to secure the services of manufacturers in Austria. During 2018 we plan to expand our network of manufacturers into Germany.
Can I send a design directly to a manufacturer?
Currently, customers can’t send any designs directly to a manufacturer. But if you design 3D-printable or laser-cut objects we would be pleased if you were to register on our platform as a designer. This enables you to upload your own designs and then order them using your end-customer account once they have been made. This also gives you the opportunity to make your design available to other end customers and to earn money with your creations. Become a designer
Can I print one of the designs on the platform myself, e.g. with my own 3D printer?
We check designs thoroughly to make sure that every design offered to us can actually be printed. We also make sure that the designers are paid for their work by means of the license fee. For that reason it is not possible to simply download designs. They can be produced only by our manufacturers once an order has been placed.
Can I exchange or send back a product?
Because the items are made only for you and are tailored to your precise wishes, exchange or return is not generally possible. However, if your article has a production flaw please let us know and we’re sure we’ll find a good solution for you: support@mything.com
Prices & Payment
What’s the average price of an article?
An article’s price depends very much on the production technology used. What you can do, though, is filter your search for your "mything" according to a particular price range so you narrow down the options and are only shown those articles that suit you.
How is the price of an item calculated?
The price of an item is composed of a license fee for the designer, the production costs (actual production and/or post-processing) plus delivery costs if you prefer not to pick the item up yourself. Per article produced, mything adds a small percentage as a fee for providing the platform and forwarding the order.
Can I pay on account?
Currently you can pay using credit card. It may be possible to pay on account or Paypal in future, but it will definitely take some time before this option is available.
How does mything earn money from this?
The price of an item is composed of a license fee for the designer, the production costs (actual production and/or post-processing) plus delivery costs if you do not pick the item up yourself. Per article produced, mything charges a fee for providing the platform and forwarding the order. This commission is a percentage that is added to the designer’s license fee and the manufacturer’s production costs.