Shapeways files in the US for bankruptcy (update: operations restarting)

[3Dsf]

If any member here is selling 3D prints of their models on that site, what is your next step?

Indeed. There just isn’t anything out there like the Shapeways marketplace, for all its flaws.

There are a handful of small specialized sites selling things to specific markets like model trains and gaming figurines. None offer wax support prints.

The closest I can find is i.materialise, but they’re completely bloody useless because they make you buy a print for each model you have in your store.

If I did that for all the models and variants I designed I’d be stuck with piles of useless prints (many designs I designed for other people but had no interest in keeping myself) and be in the hole by thousands. I don’t think so.

Selling digital files is tough because your designs end up being posted online for free or used by someone in their own money-making projects. Which is fine if that’s what you want.

 

[JNordgren42]

If any member here is selling 3D prints of their models on that site, what is your next step?

TazMan2000

I was seriously considering opening a Marketplace account for my 1/350 Refit parts (just the turbolift tubes and cargo containers right now), but that's not an option any longer. For the moment, those parts are small and easy to print in fairly substantial batches, so I can continue to sell them direct even though packaging and shipping are also a hassle. But it's manageable for the moment.

This will possibly limit me on larger parts in the future due to build volume and print time issues though. I wonder how much they'll be auctioning off their wax support machines for?

 

[laellee]

If any member here is selling 3D prints of their models on that site, what is your next step?

TazMan2000

This is something I was wondering as well. I suppose a lot of those members are now being swamped with file and or print requests?

For the wax-to-metal cast pieces, I've sent a couple of orders out to places people here recommended to see the turnaround/quality/pricing.

For 'regular' prints, there are still places like Xometry and Treatstock that can do the work. Home print quality has improved enough now to make finding someone local (or a hobbyist printer relatively close) pretty easy with decent rates; A lot of hobby printers these days HATE having an idle printer between projects, so the rates can be pretty decent.

Shapeways did protect me from a couple of issues that come up though, and I'll need to find a work-around.

One- I can easily find someone online to print a file set, but then I am putting those files in the hands of oftentimes a stranger who can do whatever they want with them later, agreements be damned. This isn't a big deal if you are getting widgets from free Thingiverse files printed, but I regularly handle files that don't exist anywhere else, 3d scans of screen used pieces, or props and data that have an NDA attached to them that would make me legally liable if some dingleberry decided to take those files and print/sell a few of his own. Shapeways gave me that protection, and having that trust and security can be hard to find other places.

TWO- This is a big one too. I have pieces like my lapel pins from The Saint and some of my Constantine keys and medallions sold through a Shapeways store, and it was a self-running operation; Shapeways took the order, made the product, shipped the product, dealt with customer service, and I just sat back and got a check with my cut every month or so. Replacing their service might end up being a headache, especially for specialized single-piece orders, and (for me anyways) guarantees having to personally place some test-orders to see how well they do. That's all fine, but it also all takes time and money to weed through the alternatives in the mean time.

Any ways, I'll post updates when I start getting pieces in from other places, good or bad.

 

[Dogsbody2]

I think thats the biggest problem.Finding a way now to go forward..

 

[real9thdoctor]

This really sucks. I got alot of stuff from them, and I have one more thing I needed for my custom Diaclone Great Robot Base I made from a Titans Return Metroplex, being improved knee joints. While I can get into the site I can't message the guy who designed the knees about buying from him directly, so now the most important mod for my custom is out the window. The knees on the figure move in both directions, and this has been a nightmare for posing and especially transforming. The knees on Shapeways only move in a natural fashion and are designed to be much stronger. But I guess now I can fricking forget it. Great.

 

[19narvik40]

You're missing my point. "Shapeways" wasn't a monolithic entity. The people responsible for marketing and whatever were almost certainly not the same people as the financiers and the people at the VP level.

I very much doubt that the marketers, or any of the other staff, were told that the company was on the brink of death the week before everything was shuttered and closed. And maliciously trying to screw over a handful of customers who responded to the free shipping campaign wouldn't have benefited anyone. The bulk of the staff were undoubtedly just doing their jobs as usual, unaware of the approaching iceberg.

This really sucks. I got alot of stuff from them, and I have one more thing I needed for my custom Diaclone Great Robot Base I made from a Titans Return Metroplex, being improved knee joints. While I can get into the site I can't message the guy who designed the knees about buying from him directly, so now the most important mod for my custom is out the window. The knees on the figure move in both directions, and this has been a nightmare for posing and especially transforming. The knees on Shapeways only move in a natural fashion and are designed to be much stronger. But I guess now I can fricking forget it. Great.

As the Shapeways page is still up you could try contacting the person who made the files you need. I am sure that the folks who uploaded their files to Shapeways would want a way to continue earning and may even have alternatives to Shapeways.

 

[Mox87]

Such a pity about this, I had just saved enough money to get The Age Of Plastic's 2001 EVA Pod upgrades and some other bits. But holding out hope that things make a comeback in some fashion.

 

[3Dsf]

Such a pity about this, I had just saved enough money to get The Age Of Plastic's 2001 EVA Pod upgrades and some other bits. But holding out hope that things make a comeback in some fashion.

I designed the AoP stuff. I was actually looking at my old site today, thinking how sad it is. All that work and it's gone now. Multiply my 200 designs by all the thousands of stores on the site. And nothing obvious has come up to replace it.

Certainly just flogging the digital files wouldn't work - the vast majority of my designs can't be printed very well using a resin printer that lacks wax supports (ie: any home printer). And of course they're useless on low-rez filament printers.

 

[real9thdoctor]

Been trying to get into my messages in my account there, as the designer and I had an ongoing convo about the knee parts and him possibly making thigh joints. But every time I try it says "Site under temporary Maintenance " and won't let me get into my messages.

 

[3Dsf]

Been trying to get into my messages in my account there, as the designer and I had an ongoing convo about the knee parts and him possibly making thigh joints. But every time I try it says "Site under temporary Maintenance " and won't let me get into my messages.

Sadly it looks like that ship has sailed. The company is being dismantled, and I'm surprised the trustee or whoever haven't completely shut down the servers yet. You might want to web search the designer and see if you can find some alternative way of reaching them.

 

[Mox87]

Certainly just flogging the digital files wouldn't work - the vast majority of my designs can't be printed very well using a resin printer that lacks wax supports (ie: any home printer). And of course they're useless on low-rez filament printers.

But if that ends up the only option, I wouldn't mind trying them. I had great success printing 1/650 scale Star Trek TOS bridges in clear resin on my Photon S (now upgraded to a Mars 3 Pro).

 

[Dogsbody2]

Sadly it looks like that ship has sailed. The company is being dismantled, and I'm surprised the trustee or whoever haven't completely shut down the servers yet. You might want to web search the designer and see if you can find some alternative way of reaching them.

Think they are giving peeps time to download their models from the store before its all wiped...
Court proceedings start this next week for the company.

 

[Mox87]

Could be a bit of good news, seems they will continue with Dutch operations only under the management of the plant in Eindhoven - Doorstart Shapeways - Boels Zanders

 

[3Dsf]

Could be a bit of good news, seems they will continue with Dutch operations only under the management of the plant in Eindhoven - Doorstart Shapeways - Boels Zanders

Very interesting!

It's a tough market; I really wish them best of luck!

 

[Mr Mold Maker]

I can’t offer much help in terms of the file store, but if there are folks who were relying on shapeways printing services, there are certainly alternatives. I have been using a service called Craftcloud3D for about three years now. It is an aggregate service, you upload your part, select your material, and get quotes from various vendors. You simply chose the vendor you want and in about a week or two you’ll get your print.

The only thing to keep in mind is the cheapest option is more often than not through China, which has its own issues in terms of NDA projects and potential file theft, etc. If you want a US or UK based printing service, you can expect to pay 2-3x more than what you’re paying China.

Shapeways was always the highest price for the lowest quality whenever I used them.

 

[StevenBills]

I have been using a service called Craftcloud3D

Just checked them out. Ordered two parts as a test. Seems suspiciously cheap for what it's offering.

SB

 

[Mr Mold Maker]

Just checked them out. Ordered two parts as a test. Seems suspiciously cheap for what it's offering.

SB

Believe it or not, it used to be even cheaper. I just posted a thread earlier today of an Acolyte “Stranger” helmet I painted. The main upper helmet piece was printed through craftcloud. My experience with them is mainly Standard and Tough resin, along with the rare SLS or Clear resin part so if you have any questions or would like to see any of those I’d be happy to share.

 

[3Dsf]

Shapeways in NL as “Manuevo BV”:

3D Printing Service Online

Shapeways is the #1 online 3D printing service company. Working with over a million customers since 2007 - Get 3D products and parts delivered to over 100 countries.

manuevo.com

 

[joberg]

Shapeways in NL as “Manuevo BV”:

3D Printing Service Online

Shapeways is the #1 online 3D printing service company. Working with over a million customers since 2007 - Get 3D products and parts delivered to over 100 countries.

manuevo.com

Thanks for that Neil. I'm sure that they will not offer the array of services/prints, etc they used to make for the customers. Maybe a smaller operation at at the beginning to test the waters.

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

Shapeways was always the highest price for the lowest quality whenever I used them.

Here, here. Again, I say "good riddance."