Shapeways Files for Bankruptcy
Shapeways, a prominent 3D printing service, has filed for bankruptcy due to business challenges. Users express disappointment, while the industry ponders the impact on 3D printing and manufacturing. Alternative metal part sources exist.
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Shapeways, a well-known on-demand 3D printing and fabrication service, has filed for bankruptcy. While the future of the company remains uncertain, the bankruptcy filing indicates underlying business challenges. Shapeways was recognized for making metal printing accessible to hobbyists, allowing for the creation of custom parts and prototypes. The emergence of similar services in China may have contributed to Shapeways' financial struggles, reflecting changes in the market since its establishment in 2013. Despite the potential closure of Shapeways, alternative options for obtaining metal parts remain available. The bankruptcy news has sparked reactions from users who valued Shapeways for its unique offerings, with some expressing disappointment over the situation. The impact of Shapeways' bankruptcy on the 3D printing community and the broader manufacturing landscape is being discussed, highlighting the evolving dynamics in the industry.
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6 commentsIncidentally, I read it the title like Shapeways provided some files to somehow 3d print bankruptcy. I'm not sure why.
Back in 2016 I made an impossible to get replacement part [0] for the Breville BCG800XL SmartGrinder and sold it through ShapeWays. It paid for all my coffee up until ~2022 when another company popped up and began selling an injection molded copy of my part on Amazon, Walmart, etc. ShapeWays' marketplace always let you easily see the top sellers in each category. I somewhat wonder if outside firms simply caught on, bought one of each, copied it, and made an injection mold to mass produce everything cheaply. This is great for the consumer but I have no idea how ShapeWays could have defended against it. I am thankful it lasted the few years it did. 3D printing was a fun way to make a little while helping folks keep their stuff out of the landfill.
[0] https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/BCG800XL+Grinder+Jamming+due+to...
Can someone list those? As someone who has no space for 3D printer this would be interesting to check out.
We just made our London based 3D printers and CNC machines at hello@factory.london in a similar offering (much smaller, early days!)
If you have regular "making needs" (printing, CNC, electronics) it would be great to talk to you, our processes aren't defined yet and we can be very flexible to accommodate you.
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