This is sort of OT...in my business I have taken to using some printed parts, it turns out to be a time/money saver over machining them from solid stock. This has worked out well for about a year and a half. However on 2 recent orders they have failed me in the extreme. Its a long story but it boils down to VERY poor communications and Very delayed delivery to out and out lies from them about when something will be done and shipped. This is not onesie twosie orders either, but orders totaling 1 & 2 thousand dollars a pop. The products are always just fine however.
So....anyone know a good alternative(or two)?
Paul
Quote from: SandiaPaul on June 26, 2015, 05:27:08 AM
This is sort of OT...in my business I have taken to using some printed parts, it turns out to be a time/money saver over machining them from solid stock. This has worked out well for about a year and a half. However on 2 recent orders they have failed me in the extreme. Its a long story but it boils down to VERY poor communications and Very delayed delivery to out and out lies from them about when something will be done and shipped. This is not onesie twosie orders either, but orders totaling 1 & 2 thousand dollars a pop. The products are always just fine however.
So....anyone know a good alternative(or two)?
Paul
For professional jobs not paid out of my own pocket I would take a look at ProtoLabs (formerly FineLine prototyping).
http://www.protolabs.com/stereolithography/
For the most part, I have had good service from Shapeways. It is a far cry from 3-4 years ago, when I could tell the same story as yours. I'm sad to hear they might be slipping.
Hauk,
I have Proto on my list thanks!
Paul(still waiting on my parts that were due to ship on the 18th)
http://lightbeam3d.com/ (http://lightbeam3d.com/)
I've used them before, and gotten good service. Though, it will be expensive. One thing Shapeways has over most everybody else is price.
Oh, and this place: http://www.click2detail.com/ (http://www.click2detail.com/) I've never used them before. Their catalog of stuff seems reasonably priced, but I don't know if that pricing applies to one-off personal things you have printed by them.
Thanks for the ideas...I will have these places quote on my next jobs. Shapeways does provide pretty good value and a wide range of useful materials. If only I could trust their delivery...maybe I just got skunked a couple of times.
Paul
Huh. I've had nothing but good service with Shapeways. Go figure.
Shapeways has been taking longer to fill orders recently...
At work, we use Midwest prototype alot. Super responsive and high quality, but I'm not sure they have some of the higher resolution machines.
Tell them Pete Hamann from Teague sent you!
I've also used Kraftwerx in Texas and iMaterialize with good results.
Pete,
Teague as in Walter Dorwin Teague? I'm an ID guy myself....
Thanks for the reference.
Paul
Hi Paul - Yep! As in Walter Dorwin...
I've been here (near Seattle) for about 7 years in the mockups and prototypes group working on aircraft interiors.
How about you?
For those not familiar with Pete, he has a LOT of experience in the 3D arena....he also doe freelance/contract work for model builders and aftermarket manufacturers, as well as having a small line of his own 3D 1/35 scale parts for order in the "store" at Shapeways.
Thanks Marc!
I guess I never did make a proper introduction. Thanks for the endorsement!
Cheers and nice to "meet" you all. :)
Pete
Screwed up a part and ordered replacements from Shapeways on July 3rd, and received it on the 8th. FUD material. USPS shipping.
Yesterday I got an email from Shapeways announcing new faster delivery on most materials including a "rush" service for some materials. Looks like they are working on it.
Paul
Latest order placed Wednesday 7/8/15 shipped 7/13/15
Thats pretty darn quick!
-Mj
Pretty sad when the post office takes longer than Shapeways........
I cant wait for an alternative to the post office....
By the way today is Friday.
There are reasons the USPS is financially unsound and you have experienced one.
Has anyone noticed that, when a company grows and its founder retires or dies, the company's product quality, innovation, and customer service almost always deteriorate?
Russ
Did the guy who invented the post office die recently?
Mj
No, he's still alive and well, retired, and living in Tahiti with a bunch of thong bikini girls.
Marty, stand in the corner.
Russ
I know Ben Franklin sure wishes he was in Tahiti with the girls. ::)
Quote from: mabloodhound on July 18, 2015, 03:13:55 PM
I know Ben Franklin sure wishes he was in Tahiti with the girls. ::)
You know what Ben Franklin would be doing if he were alive right now?
Screaming and clawing frantically at the inside of his coffin. ;)
Contrary to seemingly everyone on this forum I have had good experience with USPS. In my last bout with Shapeways I too saw the tracking that Shapeways posts. When I questioned them about ti they told me the USPS is notorious for not updating the tracking info. Sure enough I received the package and the tracking still showed it as not delivered.
Lets see the stuff when you get it Marty!
Paul
Well it's Sunday and still no parts.
That means Monday, may be....
I could have drove to Sahpeways and back, getting a good nights sleep each night and still had the parts by now!
The only real solution is to buy my own printer which I am sure will become affordable someday.
-Marty
much of the credit for the problems at the USPS must be laid at the feet of the US Congress who a decade ago saw the USPS as a cash cow ready to be milked (robbed). They have required advance payment of pensions into a gov't. controlled plan to assure there employees 70+ years from now are guaranteed their pensions when they retire and replaced the cash with IOU's. This is the same Congress who thought that putting our Social Security into a 401K prior to 2008 was a great idea. If your unborn grand children go to work for the USPS their pensions are guaranteed even if there is no guarantee the USPS itself will be there to hire them.
Quote from: Lawton Maner on July 20, 2015, 12:05:08 PM
much of the credit for the problems at the USPS must be laid at the feet of the US Congress who a decade ago saw the USPS as a cash cow ready to be milked (robbed). They have required advance payment of pensions into a gov't. controlled plan to assure there employees 70+ years from now are guaranteed their pensions when they retire and replaced the cash with IOU's. This is the same Congress who thought that putting our Social Security into a 401K prior to 2008 was a great idea. If your unborn grand children go to work for the USPS their pensions are guaranteed even if there is no guarantee the USPS itself will be there to hire them.
Kind of like Conrail isn't it!!!
Jerry
My parts arrived today after a week in transit.
I put pictures in the sketchup thread.
Im pleased with them.
Marty