Shapeways is Dead

[BattleScale Collectica Show]

www.tctmagazine.com/additive-manufacturing-3d-printing-news/latest-additive-manufacturing-3d-printing-news/shapeways-ceases-operations-and-files-for-bankruptcy/
This is sad news. The pricing structure was high, but there were so many great designers selling cool things. I obtained quite a few bits and pieces from them.

[406 Silverado]

Jul 3, 2024 15:59:54 GMT -5 BattleScale Collectica Show said:

www.tctmagazine.com/additive-manufacturing-3d-printing-news/latest-additive-manufacturing-3d-printing-news/shapeways-ceases-operations-and-files-for-bankruptcy/
This is sad news. The pricing structure was high, but there were so many great designers selling cool things. I obtained quite a few bits and pieces from them.

Now THAT does suck Jack but thank you for the heads up. I've gotten some VERY cool stuff from those guys as well. The last one I got was a 1/48 scale float plane catapult. Terrible news!!

[keavdog]

That is a bummer. I've gotten lots of stuff from them. Indycals uses them for their 3d printed parts - just got the Talbot Lago engine & grill. I also got a bunch of gear for the 1/16 MRAP from various vendors. I wonder if another platform will spin up - I'm guessing the vendors will still be printing.

[406 Silverado]

Jul 3, 2024 16:19:47 GMT -5 keavdog said:

That is a bummer. I've gotten lots of stuff from them. Indycals uses them for their 3d printed parts - just got the Talbot Lago engine & grill. I also got a bunch of gear for the 1/16 MRAP from various vendors. I wonder if another platform will spin up - I'm guessing the vendors will still be printing.

  I'm hoping so as I got some good car parts from them over the years. 

[BattleScale Collectica Show]

Jul 3, 2024 16:19:47 GMT -5 keavdog said:

That is a bummer. I've gotten lots of stuff from them. Indycals uses them for their 3d printed parts - just got the Talbot Lago engine & grill. I also got a bunch of gear for the 1/16 MRAP from various vendors. I wonder if another platform will spin up - I'm guessing the vendors will still be printing.

Shapeways was unique in that most "shops" only handled the design aspect, and Shapeways was the actual part maker. I'm not sure what other platform can offer that functionality. Most of the designers I know don't sell the STL files or have any capabilities to print and ship a physical part. 

My next episode was going to be on a specific Shapeways shop that now doesn't exist. It's inconvenient for me, but imagine all the Shapeway employees who got walked out yesterday, and all the small shops it hosted that are all dead in the water. 

I think it's going to be a HUGE mess.

[keavdog]

Ah, thanks for clearing that up. I had it backwards thinking they were like an ebay so to speak. That's even worse...
I wonder if someone like ResKit or other big high quality 3d printing organizations can be leveraged.

[moparman18064]

That is a shame. I just had a set of 1/16 Pontiac Rally II wheels made up on there. True, pricing was high, but it was a place you could get custom stuff made up.

[Medicman71]

Damn that sucks. I've never used them but I've thought about it.

[mach7]

This does suck.

I've used them for detail parts many times.

[TJ]

You have to wonder what the underlying issue was that caused them to go under

[dodgy]

Bugger! I've also used them, their product was superb. I really feel for the folks that have lost their jobs.

[Steve Zuleski]

Jul 3, 2024 18:31:42 GMT -5 TJ said:

You have to wonder what the underlying issue was that caused them to go under

I'm kinda wondering if all the personal 3D printers have been taking a big bite out of their bottom line. I've used them too, a place to get stuff you won't find elsewhere. That's a royal baby rump kisser, bummer!

[stikpusher]

That sucks bigtime! It was something of a one stop shop. I wonder if all those folks who sold thru them will find a similar business location. There were a couple of items that I could use for a project.

[Tobi]

I wonder if they grew too much and too fast in too short time. Without doubt there is demand and a need for the service Shapeways did provide to us modelers.
In the past I have both bought from vendors there and designed and got printed my own parts. Though I limited it always to a minimum, due to the prices and also the care that is needed in handling the brittle stuff.
There was also a phase, after I got me printed some parts, where I was bombarded with emails in a passive-aggressive way, about how I should build up my businees with them, where I didn't have intentions of a business. That was kind of deterrent and I had to move away a bit from them.
Nevertheless, it's a shame. Hopefully the company can relaunch after the bankruptcy with maybe a leaner business model

[kyledehart5]

Man. This really is a bummer. I used them a few times and there was always something useful on there from some designer or other.

[spook]

It's sad news .
The way things are going with the Economy , I think we may see more small shops going under. Never thought I'd see this great Country of ours in this kinda shape ...

[maverick]

I have used them occasionally as well...Bummer...Hopefully someone will pick up the torch.

[eaglecash867]

Bad news! I bought some pretty impressive 1/48 scale SR-71A flight crew members from them. They're excellent quality.

[Tobi]

Currently the Shapeways homepage is online again