SolidWorks Make, released at SolidWorks World 2016, held this week in Dallas, lets consumers personalize their online products and the have those products delivered to their door, said Igal Kaptsan, SolidWorks vice president of product management.

The Make technology bridges the gap between 3D printers and other manufacturing processes and consumer demand, Kaptsan said.

“The 3D printers can create something unique, but need to be fed with 3D data,” Kaptsan said, and Make allows this for retailers with an online store.

Essentially, manufacturers team with SolidWorks to determine the product components and variations they’d like listed at their e-commerce site. SolidWorks ensures the variations can be produced by 3D printers or by another process to customer specifications, then uploads the models to a retailer’s site, Kaptsan said.

Eyewear maker ClearVision Optical has been using the SolidWorks Make tool to allow customers to personalize their glasses, said David Friedfeld, the retailer’s chief executive officer.

SolidWorks Make is being introduced mainly to the online jewelry, accessory, eyewear, and toy markets because these retailers sell products that can be easily produced of customized components, Kaptsan said. Customers browse selection online, choose products made from parts and assemblies they have compiled—and thus personalized—and order their final version. Prices depend on components chosen, he added.

SolidWorks Make powers the feature that allows customers to choose and combine pieces to create a final product. This feature operates much like a CAD system.

The tool is free to retailers, though SolidWorks receives a percentage of each sale when the tool is used, Kaptsan said.

“We want our retail customers to be successful,” he added. “If they’re not successful, we receive nothing.”

Consumers receive the final product by mail. The products aren’t always 3D printed, Kaptsan said. Eyeglasses makers, for example, often use a computer-aided manufacturing process to create unique designs, he said.

Bespoke eyeglasses are often expensive and built by hand, requiring up to 40 hours of work by a skilled person. SolidWorks Make cuts time and cost, Friedfeld said. Also, eyeglasses personalization, such as decoration and text can be added making glasses even more personal.

By allowing customers to become part of the design process, retailers can provide both memorable and personalized experiences, he added.

Because customers can upload their chosen designs to Facebook to get friends’ feedback on their choices, the tool helps increase sales, Friedfeld added. Of course, that’s assuming friends’ like the design, which they’re certain to, as a friend created it.