3D printing service recommendations (UK)?

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Has anyone used a 3D print service (where you give them the design and they print and send off to you) that you would recommend? I have a Unifi Cloud Gateway Ultra that is languishing untidily on a shelf and I’d like to mount it under my desk instead - screwed to the underside. I have found a good design on Printables that would do the job, but I have no access to a 3D printer. Google gives me loads of options for 3D printing services, and plenty on Etsy too, but I really have no idea whether these companies are any good…

Any recommendations?

I’ve ruled out the Unifi mount because it would mount the router upside down and it has a small LED screen that I’d like to look at from time to time…

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Message me @M7SDO. If it’s just one, I’ll print one up for you.

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You could try JLCPCB’s 3D printing service.

I used them a few years ago to print the ice cream cone QO-100 helical antenna mount and cover, and they did a great job. Alternatively, if it’s just something small and a one off, send over the design files and I would be more than happy to print it for you.

Dave

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Thank you Dave @M0JKS and Tim @G5OLD for your very kind offers, really appreciated! I’m sorry if my post came across as a sly way of getting someone to offer, that wasn’t my intention at all.

Anyway, Rick @M5RJC has very kindly offered to take up the challenge, thanks Rick.

What a wonderful supportive community we have here!

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Any recommendations for a printer for home? They seem to vary in price considerably so I’m not sure if the cheap ones are any good.

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I assume you are talking about FDM printers (melting filament)?

Unfortunatly not an easy to answer question but I can share experience with the printer I have since a while the Prusa Mini built from a kit.

  • Big enough for most things I need for ham radio
  • Quite happy with the print quality (mostly in PETG material)
  • Open Source Software for printer and slicer that is comfortable to use
  • Active developers and community to support
  • No cloud based system (Local network or USB drive)
  • If built from the kit you know also how it works and it is easier to troubleshoot

73 Joe

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Bambu labs x1c

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Bambu labs are very good, probably the best for the money on the 3D printer market right now.

P1S is very good price point…… and I’d recommend this to anyone. X1C if you have more money!

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I’m very ignorant on the subject, but I seem to remember that Bambu Labs printers are tied to their cloud, so if they go belly up or decide that they want to charge a per print fee you’re stuck either with a big paperweight or a tool that has unplanned new operating costs. (this is incorrect)

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That is incorrect. You can set the printer to operate in LAN-only mode and then there is no connection made or needed to the Bambu cloud.

I can confirm that the P1S is an excellent printer. I quite fancied the X1C but couldn’t justify the additional expense at the time. I’m now doing a lot more printing, because I can, and perhaps ought to upgrade.

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I have a Creality Ender V3 SE - it works fine for me using Cura as the slicer software. The print quality is better than I expected and the unit is very solid.

Currently out of stock on the Creality UK site, for £169

Rick

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I’ve got the original Ender 3, about 4 years old now. It looks like it’s still available and it’s the cheapest one they do.

It works fine, but you don’t get the bells and whistles of the newer ones but this was fine because I wasn’t sure if it was something I’d keep and being a basic model you have to learn a lot about how they work to get it to work correctly!
I ended up spending quite a bit on upgrades/extras, so it probbaly would have been cheaper to go with one of the more expensive models but less fun.

Things to consider are:

  • Print speed
  • Noise (audio and RFI)
  • Auto levelling
  • How good the print bed is (glass vs flexible sheet)
  • WiFi/Ethernet connectivity
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