San Diego has become another city known for innovative technology development and start-ups. Like other tech-focused cities, San Diego has its share of 3D printing services that are ready for makers’ and businesses’ projects.
These services are handy for a few reasons: They can help makers save money if they aren’t interested in taking on 3D printing as a full-time hobby and only need something printed once. They also help save space, as some 3D printers and the required post-processing (both for filament and resin) can take up quite a lot of it – considering how expensive housing is in San Diego, every square foot counts!
When it comes to materials, these services can usually offer a wider variety than what one might come across or may feel justified in buying, especially if it’s for a limited amount of prints. They can also be a good option for people getting started in the additive manufacturing field, as many services will give feedback on the models and guide users through the process of taking the idea from the modeling software to the print bed.
As for businesses that need to 3D print parts but that aren’t focused on the manufacturing side of things (or that maybe just want to 3D print trophies for the annual company party), a 3D printing service can be an easier solution than buying, setting up, and learning to use such machines.
In this article, we’ll guide you to the best services and fab labs for 3D printing in the San Diego area. We’ll also give you a list of some of their services and equipment, so you’ll know what companies to consult for your specific 3D printing needs.
Alternative Option: Online Services
Supporting local businesses is always a good idea, as it’s convenient and saves on shipping fees. However, when a local service isn’t able to offer a specific material or deliver in the timeframe you need, try Craftcloud.
With over 2 million prints produced, Craftcloud has partners all around the world and can therefore offer some of the very best prices and lead times. Using the platform is easy and intuitive: Several quotes are generated instantly from manufacturers who can provide what you’re looking for based on your uploaded model and the 3D printing characteristics chosen – you can even compare the delivery times.
What makes Craftcloud unique is the wide range of materials and finishes available. You can choose from 115 different kinds of material, such as PLA, PETG, ASA, TPU, and durable or flexible resins, but also something a bit more exotic, like titanium, sterling silver, aluminum, or even 316L steel. You can easily upload any file you own, as Craftcloud accepts 35 different file types, such as STL, STEP, ZIP, OBJ, and many more.
If your designs aren’t quite suited for local 3D printing services, with Craftcloud you’re bound to find the manufacturer who’ll meet your 3D printing needs and get your model delivered to your doorstep.
037 Designs
037 Designs is a versatile company that specializes in multiple helpful services, such as design, rapid prototyping, consulting, and design optimization. They can help you bring your ideal product to life, rather than just delivering a model. This, paired with their impressive expertise, helps make your design as good as possible.
Additionally, they offer design consultation services that focus on fixing, improving, and working on any 3D model or design you have; this can be done, to start with, by booking a free 15-minute virtual appointment.
In addition to working through the designing stage, they offer rapid prototyping and 3D printing services, although the technologies and materials aren’t specified. You can get a quote on your project (if you’ve already got the CAD files) by getting in touch with the team.
Their clients include Shell Gas, UC San Diego, Axon, and more, which can be an indicator of their ability to handle any idea that you need to be printed efficiently and well.
- Address: 8400 Miramar Rd Suite 217, San Diego, CA 92126
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 am to 5 pm
- Services offered: Industrial design, mechanical engineering, prototyping, and part production on a minor or massive scale.
- Pricing: You can get a quote by getting in touch or booking an appointment.
GoProto (Uptive)
GoProto, an Uptive company, is a leading additive manufacturing service in San Diego that offers various services geared to a long list of industries. Uptive’s partnership with HP enables them to use different types of industrial-grade 3D printers to create parts in materials such as metals, polymers, and composites.
The process is simple: You submit a file and the project’s specifics on their website. Then, they review your model and give you any necessary feedback and a quote. You can then review and edit these changes before your final product is made. During design or when deciding what technology and material will best fit your needs, you can turn to their design guides for plenty of useful information.
With Uptive, you’ll be able to choose from many different 3D printing methods, including DMLS, SLS, FDM, SLA, and MJF. Besides 3D printing, they offer services such as CNC machining and sheet metal fabrication. For FDM 3D printing alone, the material options range from ABS and polycarbonate to aerospace-grade Ultem-9085. The materials section guide includes all the information you’ll need to narrow down your choices, from what it’s ideal for and the finishes available, to a spec sheet with all the tech data.
GoProto also offers other manufacturing techniques, such as CNC machining and injection molding. They even offer finishing options for parts including polished, smoothed, painted, and more!
- Address: 3940 Ruffin Rd Suite A, San Diego 92123
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm
- Services offered: On-demand FDM, SLA, MJF, DLMS 3D printing, and more.
- Pricing: You can submit your project’s information for a free quote on their website.
GKN Additive Forecast 3D
GKN Additive Forecast 3D offers a variety of additive manufacturing technologies to get your part manufactured, including FDM, SLS, SLA, CNC, and PolyJet. Whatever method works best for your budget or for the specific part, you can count on Forecast 3D to print it with a high level of quality.
In addition to manufacturing, the company also offers design services that can help you either optimize models that aren’t ready to be printed or create new ones. To get a quote on your project, you have to register and upload all the relevant information.
Forecast 3D partnered with GNK Additive to make a new kind of metal manufacturing available to the public. Focusing on powder production and metal processing, they push new technologies to the limit to make them “simpler, faster, and more accessible”.
- Address: 2221 Rutherford Rd., Carlsbad 92008
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
- Services offered: CAD design, on-demand FDM, SLA, SLS, and more.
- Pricing: You can submit your project’s information for a free quote on their website.
Incept 3D
With Incept 3D, you can easily order a custom 3D printed part with a given quote online by uploading the file, selecting the units, materials, color, and quantity, and adding your email address.
You can choose from either FDM or SLA printing options, both of which have large-format printing available (maximum dimensions of 600 x 600 x 600 mm for FDM and 276 x 155 x 400 mm for SLA). Incept 3D offers six FDM material types, including PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PC, and TPU, and there are also six resin types for SLA printing. Services include custom coloring, product design and runs, CT scans of 3D models, and more.
When it comes to printing, each of the materials has many different variants and colors to choose from, complete with a description and pricing information. They also sell filament, which includes PLA, ABS, PETG, polycarbonate, and support material. And if you need help with the design, they also offer 15-minute meetings that you can book.
- Address: 6915 Flanders Dr. Suite F, San Diego 92121
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
- Services offered: On-demand FDM and SLA 3D printing; check out the full list of options on their website.
- Pricing: You can get a free quote on their website by uploading your model.
3DHQ
3DHQ is a chain manufacturing business that offers 3D design and printing and also sells some 3D printed parts. If you have an idea, you can work with their designers to design and print it.
There’s also the option to scan objects and have them 3D printed. Arguably the most prominent feature of 3DHQ is scanning yourself and printing a model of you (see image above)! When it comes to the 3D printed figurines, they offer different material options: resin, sandstone, and nylon, with prices varying depending on size and finishing.
There’s also an assortment of reasonably-priced 3D printed items for sale including face shields, keychains, and phone holders.
You can book appointments to carry out the 3D scans (which will then be 3D printed), for 3D prototyping guidance, and for general and on-demand 3D printing consultations. Only the latter of these is free, while there’s a prepayment for the other appointments.
- Address: 8380 Miramar Mall Suite 117, San Diego, CA 92121
- Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm; Sundays, 11 am to 6 pm
- Services offered: On-demand 3D scanning, 3D printing, a service where you can 3D print yourself, others, pets, and more; 3D printed models for sale.
- Pricing: You can submit your project’s information for a free quote on their website. Appointments usually range from $50-$100, while premade prints are $12-$75.
Maketory
Maketory is a makerspace that offers a host of different tools and machines to tackle any project.
It’s not a fab lab in the strict sense given that it requires a membership fee; it also offers a lot more services and possibilities for makers, from coworking and storage space to classes on 3D printing, woodshop, and blacksmithing among others. You can even offer to hire a Maketory member on commission.
When it comes to manufacturing possibilities, you can choose from a Markforged Onyx One, 3D Systems’ Fab Pro 1000 (resin), AnkerMake M5 (PLA), and AnkerMake M5C (PLA), a plasma cutter, metal and wood lathes, and much more! In addition to the equipment, Maketory offers services to help you design as well as use their machinery, so you can be creative even if you’re not a machine expert.
You’ll need to be a member to use the equipment, but you can book a tour to ensure it’s for you before committing. As a member, you get preferred pricing on all materials such as filament, wood, and metals from local vendors, as well as discounts for classes. There are annual and monthly subscription plans, as well as memberships limited to nights and weekends at a more accessible price.
- Address: 9431 Dowdy Dr. Suite 2, San Diego 92126
- Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 8 pm; Friday and Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm
- Equipment: 3D printers (FDM and SLA), CO2 lasers, woodworking and metalworking tools, blacksmithing equipment, and more.
- Pricing: Memberships range from ~$150/month to ~$2,690/year.
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