Try ordering online. Treatstock is good for small plastic parts but i.materialise would be a better option for something metal and higher quality.

MLK library

Sadly their website is showing that they’ve closed their 3D printer to the public for the winter

Buy one! Ender 3's are cheap and pretty good. Microcenter used to have them for $100.

Any indication as to why? Covid protocol, maybe? Seems like an odd service to shut down seasonally.

If you don't mind travelling a little, some MD libraries have them and the printing price is pretty reasonable I think. I believe I've used Silver Spring's before.

Shit I work for DCPL (not at MLK) and didn’t know that. It may be staff shortages, we’re running really low especially since hours were expanded.

I wish I knew! They closed down the scheduling app and said they were “revamping things for the winter”.

Also closed! Big bummer.

I just took the fabrication lab class last week, they have 6 3D printers you can sign up for 2 hour time blocks to use. You even can buy the materials there. The woodworking shop and laser cutters are not all the way set up but the other items are. Only 2 of us showed up for the 8 person intro slot so I’m guessing if you show up for a full intro class they would have room to accommodate you as they get a lot of no shows.

Good info, thanks! I’m not sure why their website is showing that they aren’t accepting appointments but I might just drop by or call. Appreciate it!

It’s up and running, you can use the podcast studio, media lab to transfer old vhs etc to useable format, sewing machines, recording studio, dance studio, sewing machines and 3D printers. The laser cutters, woodworking, heat press and cricut machines are still off limit. You can take a class with Arlington county li rät and use theirs as well.

Yep they had 3 smaller 3D printers and 3 larger ones all up and running. You can use them for 2 two hour time blocks per month but, if you show up and no one is using them or the person signed up is more than 15 min late you can score extra time as well. No guarantee but possible. Only 1 of 6 were being used when I went.

Thanks everyone for the info! I’ll drop by this week or give them a call for the definite answer in what’s going on with their scheduling but sounds like I’ll be able to get in some how. Appreciate it!!

Edit: I called and now it looks like they’ve reopened the scheduling portal. So anyone that needs to use it as well, it should be up and running!

I used to use 3D Hubs to get local printer owners to print small parts but it seems that they did a bait and switch in 2019. Would be curious if anyone knows of any similar services that have popped up?

> I just took the fabrication lab class last week,

How'd you register for that? I've tried to register several times and every time the scheduling thing says there are no open classes no matter how far forward I check.

I signed up here. I think I signed up in December for the January class. I took it last Thursday. There were 8 slots only 2 people showed up.

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=11905149&appointmentType=category:Classes+and+Orientations

Maybe email the contact on my confirmation and ask? https://i.imgur.com/0InTlLd.jpg

But sure if they're still around but there was a service called PrintXYZ at one point with a similar schtick.

There are also professional services (Protolabs, Xometry, etc) but they tend to be pretty expensive.

Makerspaces usually have them