3D printing bureaux

[Rambler]

I have a number of 3D designs created in Fusion360 that I’d like to get printed, but I don’t want to have to own a printer (I’m not keen on having to deal with the chemicals). Previously I have used Shapeways but I’d prefer to use a UK-based outfit, preferably one that understands model railways.
Any recommendations?

 

[Lawrence Boul]

When I got these railcar bodies done some years ago I looked at Shapeways, a local supplier and a Chinese supplier. I've lost track of the exact numbers now but Shapeways was completely unviable at about 5x the price of the local supplier from memory (of which shipping was a significant factor). The local company was OK. In the 50-100GBP range as I recall. The Chinese were 20% of THAT (around 4-5% of Shapeways). The Chinese product and service was excellent (as was the local), but there are pitfalls and hiccups involved with China supply. My Shapeways experiences over the years were average I have to say.
As an individual wanting a one off job I'd balance convenience, shipping etc. As a commercial exercise even the local price left little room for margin (bear in mind the shell is only a part of the model), so the China option was the one for me.

 

[NickB]

I have successfully used 3DPRINTUK and CraftCloud. The latter isn't a printer, it is an aggregator that gathers quotes from many sources around the world and lets you choose. Both are happy to take small orders though there may be a minimum order charge, both allow you to upload files and get an instant quote, and both have useful advice concerning wall thicknesses and such like, though that is general advice, they don't do a specific audit of your parts. Understand model railways? I'm not sure what that means.

Nick

 

[simond]

I guess the average commercial printer will print the average file, with wall thicknesses and supports to match.

If you want to do something that pushes the boundaries, you will have failures, and each frustrating failure costs time, but only pennies, if it‘s your printer.

If it‘s a commercial printer, they're selling time, so it’s going to be both frustrating and expensive unless it’s easy. And you’ll struggle to learn from the results.

 

[Arun Sharma]

Rambler

As an example - I've just printed eight 7mm scale axleboxes with leaf springs for a total material cost of 30.4 pence [according to the Chitubox slicing program]. These were printed on an Elegoo Saturn 8k printer using water washable resin. The actual print time was one hour and 31 minutes. On the odd occasion I send stl files away to be printed, that particular job would probably cost £40 for the print, £20 for the FedEx delivery and a vat charge of £12 on top of that. Turnaround time at best would be four days.
Agreed, these figures don't include the original outlay for the printer but the price is coming down [probably about £320 now for the equivalent printer].
For almost all purposes, the quality of a home resin print is fine. I tend to use print bureaux now if I need a large FDM print - e.g., a 7mm rerailer or a complete 7mm tube carriage to check fit of parts prior to printing it out in resin in segments. Obviously, there is a learning curve with 3D printers but I suspect the majority of problems are likley to be initially, alignment of the model and too few supports. Lots of advice available on YouTube videos on those two areas.

Financially, home printing makes sense.

Might even be worth asking on WT whether any of the members would do your printing for you!

 

[Lawrence Boul]

As an example - I've just printed eight 7mm scale axleboxes with leaf springs for a total material cost of 30.4 pence [according to the Chitubox slicing program]. These were printed on an Elegoo Saturn 8k printer using water washable resin. The actual print time was one hour and 31 minutes. On the odd occasion I send stl files away to be printed, that particular job would probably cost £40 for the print, £20 for the FedEx delivery and a vat charge of £12 on top of that. Turnaround time at best would be four days.
Agreed, these figures don't include the original outlay for the printer but the price is coming down [probably about £320 now for the equivalent printer].
For almost all purposes, the quality of a home resin print is fine. I tend to use print bureaux now if I need a large FDM print - e.g., a 7mm rerailer or a complete 7mm tube carriage to check fit of parts prior to printing it out in resin in segments. Obviously, there is a learning curve with 3D printers but I suspect the majority of problems are likley to be initially, alignment of the model and too few supports. Lots of advice available on YouTube videos on those two areas.

Financially, home printing makes sense.

Might even be worth asking on WT whether any of the members would do your printing for you!

I don't think this is an especially cohesive argument. Yes, printing axleboxes etc at home is quick, inexpensive and adequate. However, if you are going to do 7mm scale coaches in sections the argument may be less clear cut. The entire coach will not be quick, resin cost will be significant and at best you generate parts needing assembly - possibly quite a bit of work. In such cases I'd be exploring commercial providers who would do the job in one piece (assuming 1 piece is desirable).
It does depend very much on what you are printing and quite a few other factors as well. If you've got a hammer everything looks like a nail.

 

[Arun Sharma]

I don't think this is an especially cohesive argument. Yes, printing axleboxes etc at home is quick, inexpensive and adequate. However, if you are going to do 7mm scale coaches in sections the argument may be less clear cut. The entire coach will not be quick, resin cost will be significant and at best you generate parts needing assembly - possibly quite a bit of work. In such cases I'd be exploring commercial providers who would do the job in one piece (assuming 1 piece is desirable).
It does depend very much on what you are printing and quite a few other factors as well. If you've got a hammer everything looks like a nail.

It works for me and evidently also, the folk who have obtained them from me.