Now Shapeways is dead, where to get 3D prints done in the UK?

[David Matthewson]

Hi

I guess like many 009 chaps I've used Shapeways for both marketplace buys and custom printing but now they have gone bust!

Can anyone recommend a UK based 3D print outfit that will take STL files and produce 'one off' prints at a reasonable price and quality please?

Thanks

David

[Graeme Dunbar]

I'm not sure about UK printers, but some of the Chinese printed circuit board manufacturers have branched out into 3D printing. I have no idea of quality or rather whether what they offer is of model or miniature surface quality or more that they produce things more industrial in nature.

PCB Way is one and their prices seem competitive.

It might need a few guinea pigs to try out some of the businesses if recommendations don't start popping up on the model railway forums!

There seem to be plenty of companies offering 3D printing in the UK, but it appears they are aiming for commercial clients who will pay the going rate.

There are what I guess are cottage industry printers on Etsy, but quality might be an issue. I imagine it is not just down to straight quality of equipment but possibly relates to the producer's experience in printing particular types of item. It looks like there are people printing highly detailed wargaming miniature figures, but I imagine the  skills for optimising detail and surface finish for them may be different those needed to produce good model railway vehicles with their thin, flat surfaces. The best small business producers of model railway items have this down to a fine art and their quality is way above some of the others. (People will have their own opinions on who makes the 'best' 3D print model railway items!)

[David Matthewson]

Thanks - I'll dig a bit more and report back.

[Hugh Norwood]

There is someone I've seen on Facecloth (I think) who will do printing. Perhaps a look on ngrm-online may be productive?

(I'd rather go for a printer in this country...)

[David Matthewson]

Thanks Hugh - yes, UK based has attractions as it avoids all the customs/vat/lost in the Ether issues. OOI, the PRC based outfit Graeme noted allows 'instant quotations' and a simple resin print of a loco comes out at less than $5 USD. No idea on P&P yet, nor quality, but the site seems to know what it is talking about - viz: rather professional.

More to follow...

[David Matthewson]

These guys... https://i.materialise.com are based in the EU and the cost is £13 GBP for the same loco as the PRC costed at $5 USD. Min order charge £35 and p&p is Euro 24... ouch!

and these .. https://midlands3d.com .. who are UK based, the cost is < £1 GPB (!) and with P&P, VAT etc it adds up to £11 GBP... more interesting.


and these... https://3dtomorrow.com/3d-print-service/...£50 GBP min order, £2.08 for the print and £10 setup charge - p&p on top...

and these https://www.surfacescan.co.uk/3d-printing-calculator/ .. UK based, £0.35p for the print, so £0.42p inc vat... Min order = £13.15 GBP, and p&p = £6.95


Finally, https://app.3dprint-uk.co.uk - UK based, but a min order charge of £40 GBP. Print cost = £1 GBP, and I didn't follow up on p&p.
So if the quality is OK, then interesting. Worth a couple of test prints I feel.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Justway is another Chinese manufacturer.

https://www.justway.com/


From the looks of the web site it appears to be a clone of PCBWay. Given the similarity in name it may just be a different trading name for the same company.

I bought an STL file for a loco from Tom Bell ages ago and I'm pondering whether to give it a shot if it doesn't cost a lot. Not that I need any more of that particular loco! An ex-colleague with an AnyCubic Photon printed it for me and I have a good one and two that could be kit bashed, chopping of the distorted bits. It might make an interesting comparison.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Well, I thought I'd better put my money where my mouth is and created an account on Justway and uploaded a couple of locomotive STL files. I am waiting for a response from them checking the files.

The price quoted seemed very reasonable, but then of course postage and VAT is to be added. I found a UK user who posted a YouTube video which appears to show the service is good, though the presenter does say it is a sponsored video.

I'll let you know how I get on.

[Graeme Dunbar]

OK I think that is going to be a non-starter. For about 15 USD of printing the total including postage, VAT handling and so on came out to about 90 USD. There are cheaper shipping options that they don't guarantee at about 30 USD total. If it comes in under the radar for VAT charges it might be worth it, but with VAT and post office handling fee it bumps it up again.

I might try one of the other sites to see what their pricing is like.

[David Matthewson]

Ouch! I'm trying these guys... more later.

[Hugh Norwood]

Matt Ditch Photography, who sells his own 3D prints, has said on facecloth he's willing to print people's files for them, as long  as folk realise he's a one-man band and don't overwhelm him.

His online shop is here https://www.mattditch.photography/online-shop-1

[Graeme Dunbar]

After a fair bit of getting lost and confused I've finally put an order in with JCL3DP: https://jlc3dp.com/

It is a company I've dealt with before, but on their printed circuit board side of things. I'm not sure what the quality will be like - not from the point of view of standard of production, but being (presumably) aimed more at the production of cases for electronics projects I'm not sure if their production is tailored to producing models.

I've selected a few different resins and models so we will see. If they are OK it may have potential because they are set up to process VAT and their postage and handling is quite reasonable. I'm just waiting to see if they approve the files I uploaded. For under £20 including postage I think it is worth a gamble.

Of course they could turn around and say they won't print them.

[Graeme Dunbar]

I got a print assessment back from JCL3DP. As I feared there are likely to be issues. They don't appear to give guidelines on resolution and wall thickness, at least not in the way Shapeways does/did. Their resin printers work in a different way that produces smooth prints apparently, but at the cost of loss of detail. (Laser on the surface of a liquid and not UV light at the interface of a film and liquid.) As I suspected, perhaps great for printing project boxes, bespoke knobs, light duty brackets and so on, but not detailed model railway parts.

Given the low cost (it seems) they could be a useful source for printing those other items.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Well, after getting myself thoroughly confused attempting to print a selection of locomotive shells in a variety of different materials and JLC3DP sending me various messages saying there were issues with the models (walls too thin etc.) I deleted them all and uploaded a single thumb nut STL file and asked for it to be printed.

It has just been approved and they've taken my money so in a while, with a bit of luck I should have some finger tightening screws to hold the transportation covers on my modules.

[Hugh Norwood]

Over on the ngrm-online forums (fora?) I see it is reported that the (original?) Dutch side of Shapeways has been bought by a group of the dutch-side senior management..

see here: https://3dprint.com/311923/european-arm-of-shapeways-saved-by-dutch-senior-management