Is Shapeways Dying?

[LesBaer45]

Presuming this is the same "Shapeways Holdings" that a lot of modelers have used in the past. 

https://www.tctmagazine.com/additive-manufacturing-3d-printing-news/latest-additive-manufacturing-3d-printing-news/shapeways-ceases-operations-and-files-for-bankruptcy/

Shapeways has ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy ‘after considering all strategic alternatives.’

The publicly listed company published a Form 8-K on July 2nd, 2024, detailing that it has filed a voluntary petition for relief under the provisions of Chapter 7 of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Filing for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Shapeways has confirmed each of its subsidiaries have also ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy.

[C855B]

Yes. See the thread here, under "3D Printing": https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58099.msg800325#msg800325

[sirenwerks]

What is particularly frustrating is Shapeways has shut down its messaging system, so you can't even email your favorite vendors to let them know that, wherever they go, they stay in touch. I hate to lose Rapidpro and Wuttermelon, and a whole slew of vendors making interesting products.

[squirrelhunter]

Isn't Wutter here Wuttermelon on Shapeways?

[C855B]

Isn't Wutter here Wuttermelon on Shapeways?

Yes. @Wutter is one and the same. I suspect he'll drop in to inform us of an alternative channel for his designs once the dust settles.

[mmagliaro]

As Mike said, their market was doomed as personal 3D printers became more affordable and higher quality, but Shapeways blew up their own business by raising prices, increasing lead and shipping times,

and most of all making their website damn hard to search and navigate.

...

THIS.  I almost never used Shapeways for anything because their search capability was utterly useless.  How can you buy anything if you can't find anything?  The only time I bought things from Shapeways was when I got information elsewhere about a specific item with a specific link. 

They didn't have to be as good or as precise as the people doing the nice work now with better printers and materials.  That might matter to US here on Railwire, but in general...They had name recognition and a one-stop-shop for anything from a custom dog bowl to an N Scale wheelset.  All they had to do was keep their pricing under control, maintain a resonable delivery schedule, and put in a shopping/search capability that worked.   This didn't have to happen.

[Mike C]

   

[delamaize]

Well, That may be the nail that makes me buy a 3d printer, and start 3d modeling again. Pretty much everything 3d printed I used came from Shapeways....

This also puts a dampener on my Milwaukee EF-1 boxcab project....

[rodsup9000]

THIS.  I almost never used Shapeways for anything because their search capability was utterly useless.  How can you buy anything if you can't find anything?  The only time I bought things from Shapeways was when I got information elsewhere about a specific item with a specific link. 

 Printing parts, is pretty easy for most of us that have printers. It's the drawing in a CAD program to get the STL file that is very time consuming.
There are places already where you can buy/get free STL files, but searching for model railroad ones is challenging at times.  I wish someone would set up a site just for model railroad STL files and some of those that had a shapeways shops could list their STL files for sale there.

[John]

Printing parts, is pretty easy for most of us that have printers. It's the drawing in a CAD program to get the STL file that is very time consuming.
There are places already where you can buy/get free STL files, but searching for model railroad ones is challenging at times.  I wish someone would set up a site just for model railroad STL files and some of those that had a shapeways shops could list their STL files for sale there.

I've shared some of my work here - and usually upload stuff to Thingiverse -- my surprise when one of my derived designs ended up being sold by Walthers for $14.95 HO, 12.95 N
https://www.walthers.com/search/?q=20%27+Container+Office+--+Kit+





The origional box was Creative Commons license - when I made my mods I didn't set the no commercial use restriction .. If someone wants to print one of these for free - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5535805

[milw156]

Any one else have an unfufilled but paid for order with them? I had placed an order for some detail parts & vehicles on 6/18. last week, I was told that one of the items did not pass their "test" and the price would be refunded. Guess I should be happy I got something back, eh?

[ljudice]

it was fun while it lasted...


I sold over 300 camp car models on Shapeways, but only took a $1.00 profit on each, so I guess it paid for a few freight cars or a loco with dcc/sound.

[Sumner]

I've shared some of my work here - and usually upload stuff to Thingiverse -- my surprise when one of my derived designs ended up being sold by Walthers for $14.95 HO, 12.95 N
https://www.walthers.com/search/?q=20%27+Container+Office+--+Kit+





The origional box was Creative Commons license - when I made my mods I didn't set the no commercial use restriction .. If someone wants to print one of these for free - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5535805

Have they done the following?

You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

Sumner

[Chris333]

I just got an e-mail asking if there is another way to buy my prints... I barely sell anything on Shapeways and 99% of it has no mark up.


A couple of my files have been on sale at ebay. I told people on FB it was fine will them to pay someone else to print my files. I remember one guy scaled my HOn30 stuff up to On30 to sell. I asked him since he scaled it up maybe he could share the new file with any alterations he had to do. His reply was something about giving away his work for free. Then I told him the file he used was mine so it was my work. Only down side is the people using filament printers, but I guess they do show photos of what you'd get.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176442269367

Have you noticed that many On30 layouts all have the same cars? I was, so I'm creating ones you dont often see, these are an great example of something different, affordable, and customizable to your liking. These are a solid base to create your own one of a kind ore cars you won't see everywhere else.

All he did was resize my model and added nothing to it:
https://www.printables.com/model/528893-hon30-rockcar
Again, I don't care that he is selling them, but acting like he made them is odd.

[LesBaer45]

Well I should have known I'd be late to the party. 

Here's to hoping no one got "stuck" by this event.