Transactional method for building three-dimensional objects

A method of conducting business with a customer for manufacturing a smoothed three-dimensional object, the method comprising:

• receiving digital information of the three-dimensional object from the customer over a communication line, wherein the digital information comprises:
• a digital representation of the three-dimensional object;
• and
• surface smoothness information selected by the customer for vapor smoothing the three-dimensional object, the surface smoothness information comprising information selected by the customer that relates to an amount of vapor smoothing to be performed on the three-dimensional object;
• providing a price quote to the customer over the communication line, wherein the price quote is based at least in part on the received digital information;
• building the three-dimensional object with a thermoplastic build material based at least in part on the received digital information, wherein at least part of the three-dimensional object is built by rapid manufacturing, and wherein the three-dimensional object comprises an exterior surface;
• vapor smoothing at least a portion of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the surface smoothness information relating to the amount of vapor smoothing to be performed;
• and
• providing the smoothed three-dimensional object to the customer.

A method of manufacturing a smoothed three-dimensional object, the method comprising:

• providing a customer interface to a customer computer over a communication line;
• receiving digital information from the customer computer over the communication line, wherein the digital information comprises:
• a digital representation of the three-dimensional object;
• and
• surface smoothness information for vapor smoothing the three-dimensional object, the surface smoothness information being selected by the customer with the customer interface, wherein the surface smoothness information comprises information selected by the customer that relates to an amount of vapor smoothing to be performed on the three-dimensional object;
• building the three-dimensional object with a thermoplastic build material based at least in part on the digital representation, wherein at least part of the three-dimensional object is built by rapid manufacturing, and wherein the three-dimensional object comprises an exterior surface;
• and
• vapor smoothing the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the surface smoothness information relating to the amount of vapor smoothing to be performed.