Since December of 2016 I've been offering 3d printing services via
3dhubs. From the end of this month, it won't happen any more.
The service is moving to a business-to-business model, and as a
hobbyist with a single printer I don't want the administrative hassle
of registering a business; the time and expense would wipe out my
profit margin.
(Also, to join the cool kids club, it was necessary to sign up for
"instant order" - in other words, whatever the customer asks for, you
automatically agree to print, rather than looking it over first. I
have to reject about one order in ten because they're simply not
possible with my printer. That's what the customer is paying for, as
far as I'm concerned - someone who knows their printer well and can
get good results out of it. It's an artisanal service rather than an
automated one.)
So that's obviously a shame from my point of view. But I think it's a
pity for the customers as well: while the details aren't clear, it
looks as if most of them will not be able to use 3dhubs at all, and a
few will be able to deal with the rather smaller number of providers
remaining there. The vast majority of orders I've taken have been from
private individuals who don't want to "revolutionise manufacturing",
they just want one or oddly-shaped pieces of plastic for their custom
electronics project, or as a toy for their child, or…
I've contacted some of my regular customers through the site (until
that feature was suddenly turned off) to let them know that I'll still
be available for printing. I have accounts on 3dseeker and a few other
places, but I've had no business from them yet. I suppose I'd get more
if I had a Facebook page, but I'm not that despeate.
I do feel a certain amount of ingratitude here: 3dhubs exists because
hobbyists signed up with it, and because of that it was able to
attract the larger players. Now they're doing a Google, and ignoring
all their users except the most profitable.
If you have an interest in getting things designed and/or printed,
give me a shout via 3d.firedrake.org.
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