I don't know about companies like Shapeways, but there are "Maker studios" in lots of US locations now. They're all different sorts, some require membership, one of ours has a walk-in for $10. (I don't know how that actually works, I could easily use more than $10 of resin in one visit. But I have my own printers...)

 

You can even check your public library - I've been surprised at how many of them now have such facilities.

I think you said the important thing right there--back when Shapeways was a successful company, it wasn't so cheap and easy to make 3D prints at home. Now lots of people, especially anyone who creates many parts, can do pretty good prints without the need for a commercial service, and Shapeways' customer base disappeared. So did Shapeways! But there are such businesses around, and you can do a web search for them. Or you could attempt to link up with someone who'd use their personal equipment to make models for you.

It's not necessarily the outright costs, there is a whole ecosystem surrounding a 3d printer. Wash, cure, slicing, support, diagnosis of print failure, all sorts of stuff. A small (but good) printer is can be had under $200, but there's still the learning curve and many other things to consider. Guess how I know this? (3 printers, 2 wash stations, 2 cure boxes, a curing wand, 5 different types of resin...)

Thanks, all. A lot of the maker spaces nearby have filament printers, but it seems like resin ones have the ideal resolution for N scale (it could be the local spaces worry about the toxicity concerns with resin printers, though those are improving). I have done searches online: there are companies like printathing, rexroi, and others, and I'm looking for a recommendation on one people in the model railroad space find work well for them. For example, I was leaning towards printathing (seems cheap, decent options) but do people find the quality good enough, or is there another people use before getting their own?

Shapeways was a great place to see if something was available. A number of 3D developers out there got their start using them as their manufacturer and shipping agent. I found a number of items over the years just looking through what was available. Catenary poles, signal bridges , PRR HO scale E-44 bodies to turn Bachman E-33's into E-44's and a large selection of HO scale cars and trucks etc. I miss them no longer being available as they were. They still exist just no site for people to explore anymore. -- Ken

I purchased a number of detail parts from Shapeways. Items that weren't available from the "normal" sources.

Particularly items for the early 1900s, like pot-bellied stoves, radiators, furniture, and an interior for a Labelle Combine.

 

Regards,

Mike S.

 

I asked Duck AI the question and got this response:

 

 

Regards,

Jerry

All I know is that I have an STL file of a 3D printed cooling fan bracket for an RF amplifier in my ham radio hobby and I've looked to semi local and mail order sources and the whole process of picking material and printing preference is confusing as hell.

I have zero idea what I'm doing trying to get this thing made.