SHAPEWAYS Resurrection

[Albacore 569]

Got this surprise email this morning.

"Shapeways is Coming Home

Dear Steve,

I am delighted to announce that Shapeways is coming home.

Two original co-founders along with the highly-skilled leadership team from our Eindhoven factory have stepped in to steward the company into its next chapter. After Shapeways Inc. filed for bankruptcy in July, we knew we had to resurrect the company and preserve the digital manufacturing engine we all helped to build - a combination of dedicated, skilled people, cutting-edge machinery and sophisticated software. Moving forward, our focus is on rebuilding Shapeways and leveraging our digital manufacturing engine for our customers’ success.

We regret to inform you that our marketplace cannot be revived as it previously existed, as all marketplace accounts and accompanying data were deleted in the bankruptcy. We still believe in the Shapeways Shops concept and are actively pursuing new ways to replace this service for the Shapeways community. This exploration will take time and we ask for your patience on this journey. We hope to find a solution that allows you to access a similarly eclectic array of unique objects as you came to expect from the Shapeways marketplace. Stay tuned for details.

If you are a creator yourself you can upload and order your models here - we’d love to have you back.

In the meantime, you can learn more about the new Shapeways in our press release, here. We have compiled a FAQ around the bankruptcy and loss of the marketplace here. And you can learn a bit more about me, the new leadership team, and our vision for Shapeways here.

Warmly,

Marleen Vogelaar, CEO"






My old Shapeway account program for my 1/30 scale TYPE XVIIB stem planes for the continuing build on on HMS Meteorite

[gantu]

I think type XVIIB ?

[Subculture]

Will be interesting to see how this restoration fairs. My own thoughts are they long ago lost the market to Chinese competitors. The shop with extensive ranges of 3D files was their main advantage, although much of that advantage has been chipped away by companies like Cults3d and MyMiniFactory not to mention the free Thingiverse.Unless they can savagely cut their printing costs, I think they risk bankruptcy once again or will be absorbed.

[Albacore 569]

I think type XVIIB ?

Yes, mistyped - added the X. Danka Gantu

[RCSubGuy]

To follow up on what SubCulture said above, (and not to get too political), but with the proposed tariffs, now we can all look forward to increased pricing for this already deadly expensive hobby.

Domestic 3D-printed part producers still will not hope to compete, as they're massively more expensive than overseas producers now. 25% won't make a whiff of difference. Same goes for all of our servos, electronics, radios, 3D printers. You know... basically everything we need and use. Yes, it would be awesome to be able to buy an American made brushless motor, but I, for one, won't do it if it's double what an overseas supplier can offer it for, even with the tariffs. As a matter of fact, as prices increase hard like this, people will become exponentially more cost-conscious, further injuring domestic competitive advantage.

Basically, all we get is a 25% increase to our costs, paid to the government. This isn't just Chinese goods, either. Kevin McLeod and his awesome Canadian-made RC submarine electronics will fall under the 25% tariffs, too. Your $60 pitch controller will be $75. Nice, eh! That $2000 Engel kit you've been eyeballing? Fork out another $500 for Uncle Sam. That R&R cylinder? $125 price hike for you come January!

And no, precious... the overseas producers don't pay the tariff fees, the people importing it do, IE: US companies and consumers. Yep.. you and me.

Sigh...

My intention is not to attack anyone's political views. As a vendor, this is going to impact me and my customers in a major way. I don't feel that this is the right way forward. If you have a differing opinion and have data (and not feelings) to back it up, by all means, let's have a meaningful discussion. I, for one, would love to have someone talk me out of the stress.

[Davjacva]

To follow up on what SubCulture said above, (and not to get too political), but with the proposed tariffs, now we can all look forward to increased pricing for this already deadly expensive hobby.

Domestic 3D-printed part producers still will not hope to compete, as they're massively more expensive than overseas producers now. 25% won't make a whiff of difference. Same goes for all of our servos, electronics, radios, 3D printers. You know... basically everything we need and use. Yes, it would be awesome to be able to buy an American made brushless motor, but I, for one, won't do it if it's double what an overseas supplier can offer it for, even with the tariffs. As a matter of fact, as prices increase hard like this, people will become exponentially more cost-conscious, further injuring domestic competitive advantage.

Basically, all we get is a 25% increase to our costs, paid to the government. This isn't just Chinese goods, either. Kevin McLeod and his awesome Canadian-made RC submarine electronics will fall under the 25% tariffs, too. Your $60 pitch controller will be $75. Nice, eh! That $2000 Engel kit you've been eyeballing? Fork out another $500 for Uncle Sam. That R&R cylinder? $125 price hike for you come January!

And no, precious... the overseas producers don't pay the tariff fees, the people importing it do, IE: US companies and consumers. Yep.. you and me.

Sigh...

My intention is not to attack anyone's political views. As a vendor, this is going to impact me and my customers in a major way. I don't feel that this is the right way forward. If you have a differing opinion and have data (and not feelings) to back it up, by all means, let's have a meaningful discussion. I, for one, would love to have someone talk me out of the stress.

So maybe...those Chinese goons who have been manipulating their money/ markets will adjust to the tariffs? I believe so. it can only be good for us. It sure wasn't this way last time around. They definitely had to bend the knee. I'm tired of paying 30% more for groceries, gas, and whatnot from the inept criminal organizations. It's going to be awesome. Since they want to sell to us, WE will dictate the deal, not the Loony-tunes that have been.

[Albacore 569]

To follow up on what SubCulture said above, (and not to get too political), but with the proposed tariffs, now we can all look forward to increased pricing for this already deadly expensive hobby.

Domestic 3D-printed part producers still will not hope to compete, as they're massively more expensive than overseas producers now. 25% won't make a whiff of difference. Same goes for all of our servos, electronics, radios, 3D printers. You know... basically everything we need and use. Yes, it would be awesome to be able to buy an American made brushless motor, but I, for one, won't do it if it's double what an overseas supplier can offer it for, even with the tariffs. As a matter of fact, as prices increase hard like this, people will become exponentially more cost-conscious, further injuring domestic competitive advantage.

Basically, all we get is a 25% increase to our costs, paid to the government. This isn't just Chinese goods, either. Kevin McLeod and his awesome Canadian-made RC submarine electronics will fall under the 25% tariffs, too. Your $60 pitch controller will be $75. Nice, eh! That $2000 Engel kit you've been eyeballing? Fork out another $500 for Uncle Sam. That R&R cylinder? $125 price hike for you come January!

And no, precious... the overseas producers don't pay the tariff fees, the people importing it do, IE: US companies and consumers. Yep.. you and me.

Sigh...

My intention is not to attack anyone's political views. As a vendor, this is going to impact me and my customers in a major way. I don't feel that this is the right way forward. If you have a differing opinion and have data (and not feelings) to back it up, by all means, let's have a meaningful discussion. I, for one, would love to have someone talk me out of the stress.

I agree Bob! The SNA Suffern I am planning & saving up for - the 3d printing design posted on earlier tread here will cost more Ihan I planned now based on where you send them to have the parts printed. Totally Sucks! Trump may kill the entire hobby industry. RC cars, ARF planes, subs. Like how insurance costs killed the civil aviation industry in the 80's. Seeing if I can get the money together for the needed 3 d printed before Mid-January? IDK if you can design and print them in time.

Shipways died for multiple reasons in its way of doing things, but the main reason was the ridiculous costs.

[RCSubGuy]

So maybe...those Chinese goons who have been manipulating their money/ markets will adjust to the tariffs? I believe so. it can only be good for us. It sure wasn't this way last time around. They definitely had to bend the knee. I'm tired of paying 30% more for groceries, gas, and whatnot from the inept criminal organizations. It's going to be awesome. Since they want to sell to us, WE will dictate the deal, not the Loony-tunes that have been.

Perhaps. At this point all we can do is hope.

Consider this, however... the trade relationship between the US and China goes both ways, and I would argue that the demand of US citizens for cheap goods exponentially outweighs the need for China to sell to us. We're one country, albeit a large one. What many forget is that there is an entire world out there, and China as well as all of the other countries getting snubbed and threatened, have access to all of them.

[Das Boot]

What I find strange, is the fact that Russia has just implemented tariffs on China, in the neighborhood of a 55% duty of furniture. I’m kind of a loss to understand this, since China has supported Russia in their invasion of Ukraine. What’s more strange is that Europe only has a 10% duty on imports from China.