If you don't own a 3D Printer and you don't know anyone who owns a 3D Printer but you want to get some of these 3D Printed items for yourself then this thread will go through some of the options you might not have known or considered.
Public Libraries
Many Public libraries now have 3D Printers that you can use for free. So call around and find out if one near you has one that you can use. In a lot of cases this may be the absolute cheapest way to get something 3D Printed.
High Schools and Colleges
High schools and colleges that offer technical programs in manufacturing or engineering tend to have 3D Printers available for those programs. If you're in school or know someone who works or attends one of these school you might be able get permission to use their printer or get them to print something for you. Similar to this if you know someone who works as a Mechanical Engineer they may have access to a 3D Printer at their work. While it might require some human networking to build a relationship with the relevant people, most of the time the printers that schools have are industrial grade and will produce awesome high-quality prints making it worth the effort.
Hacker Spaces
A "Hacker Space" is a semi-public workshop owned by a community of hackers or makers usually located in or just outside of major cities these offer a dedicated space where people who like to build and tinker with things can work. They can have equipment for wood working, or metal working, or electronics work as well; 3D Printers are another tool they'll typically have. There is even a hackerspace in my state that is dedicated to arcade collectors. Generically hacker spaces have a membership process where you pay monthly dues to gain access to the space, but some offer open hours when anyone can come or will allow you entry if your visit is supervised by an existing member. Perhaps more valuable than the tools that you can gain access to is the community of like minded individuals who can lend advice, guidance, or even just an extra set of hands for whatever project you're working on. There are a few sites online that list hacker spaces around the world so check out if there are any where you live: https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/Hackerspaces https://www.hackster.io/hackerspaces
3DHubs.com
3D Hubs has been described as the Uber of 3D Printing. You upload the models you want printed and 3D hubs finds someone who can print it for you. This can range from a hobbyist who has a $500 MakerBot in their bedroom, to a large manufacturing company that offers professional grade 3D Printing services on industrial machines worth $100,000. Because of the wide range of options prices and quality varies greatly. Like shopping on eBay, or using Uber, reading the reviews of the person making your parts is important to having a positive experience.
The best part about 3D Hubs is the ease of use, it's integrated into Thingiverse so while viewing the page for a given "thing" you can click the "Order this Printed" button and you're on your way to getting one printed.
Shapeways
Shapeways is a Professional 3D Printing and Manufacturing marketplace, their prices are expensive however they're a useful option that could be worth looking into if you need to have a whole bunch of a part made. So if you're looking to get just 1 "thing" made for yourself then 3D Hubs would likely be a better option, but if you're designing a custom housing for your product and want 100 of them made, then Shapeways might be the better option.
Find Someone On the Forum
I don't know if anyone on the forum is currently offering 3D Printing services publicly, but if you are: reply to this thread and hopefully others who are looking to get some 3D Printing done can find you
Just buy a 3D Printer
If you're tired of relying on others to print stuff for you and you want to get into 3D printing yourself i have a another thread explaining what you should consider when buying a 3D Printer: Choosing a 3D printer
Public Libraries
Many Public libraries now have 3D Printers that you can use for free. So call around and find out if one near you has one that you can use. In a lot of cases this may be the absolute cheapest way to get something 3D Printed.
High Schools and Colleges
High schools and colleges that offer technical programs in manufacturing or engineering tend to have 3D Printers available for those programs. If you're in school or know someone who works or attends one of these school you might be able get permission to use their printer or get them to print something for you. Similar to this if you know someone who works as a Mechanical Engineer they may have access to a 3D Printer at their work. While it might require some human networking to build a relationship with the relevant people, most of the time the printers that schools have are industrial grade and will produce awesome high-quality prints making it worth the effort.
Hacker Spaces
A "Hacker Space" is a semi-public workshop owned by a community of hackers or makers usually located in or just outside of major cities these offer a dedicated space where people who like to build and tinker with things can work. They can have equipment for wood working, or metal working, or electronics work as well; 3D Printers are another tool they'll typically have. There is even a hackerspace in my state that is dedicated to arcade collectors. Generically hacker spaces have a membership process where you pay monthly dues to gain access to the space, but some offer open hours when anyone can come or will allow you entry if your visit is supervised by an existing member. Perhaps more valuable than the tools that you can gain access to is the community of like minded individuals who can lend advice, guidance, or even just an extra set of hands for whatever project you're working on. There are a few sites online that list hacker spaces around the world so check out if there are any where you live: https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/Hackerspaces https://www.hackster.io/hackerspaces
3DHubs.com
3D Hubs has been described as the Uber of 3D Printing. You upload the models you want printed and 3D hubs finds someone who can print it for you. This can range from a hobbyist who has a $500 MakerBot in their bedroom, to a large manufacturing company that offers professional grade 3D Printing services on industrial machines worth $100,000. Because of the wide range of options prices and quality varies greatly. Like shopping on eBay, or using Uber, reading the reviews of the person making your parts is important to having a positive experience.
The best part about 3D Hubs is the ease of use, it's integrated into Thingiverse so while viewing the page for a given "thing" you can click the "Order this Printed" button and you're on your way to getting one printed.
Shapeways
Shapeways is a Professional 3D Printing and Manufacturing marketplace, their prices are expensive however they're a useful option that could be worth looking into if you need to have a whole bunch of a part made. So if you're looking to get just 1 "thing" made for yourself then 3D Hubs would likely be a better option, but if you're designing a custom housing for your product and want 100 of them made, then Shapeways might be the better option.
Find Someone On the Forum
I don't know if anyone on the forum is currently offering 3D Printing services publicly, but if you are: reply to this thread and hopefully others who are looking to get some 3D Printing done can find you
Just buy a 3D Printer
If you're tired of relying on others to print stuff for you and you want to get into 3D printing yourself i have a another thread explaining what you should consider when buying a 3D Printer: Choosing a 3D printer
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