Recently, 3D printing has taken hold in many cities across the US – Los Angeles, included. Several standout services have taken up shop in the city, and 3D printing resources are increasingly accessible to Angelenos, thanks to a number of fab labs as well as educational and civic initiatives. The city’s well-known entertainment industry has also created a thriving market for 3D printing services.
In this article, we’ll highlight a few popular Los Angeles 3D printing services as well as places where you can do some printing on your own. Whether you need a specially printed part or just want to get your hands on a printer, read on for some of the best 3D printing resources the City of Angels has to offer.
Alternative Option: Online Services
Supporting local businesses in Los Angeles is always a good idea, as it’s convenient, helps small business owners, 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, we recommend trying 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 to fit your needs. 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. This makes it easy to compare offers from different manufacturers.
What makes Craftcloud unique is the wide range of materials and finishes available. You can choose from 115 different kinds of materials, such as PLA, PETG, ASA, TPU, and durable or flexible resins. If these materials aren’t what you’re looking for, Craftcloud also offers more exotic ones such as titanium, sterling silver, aluminum, 17-4 PH stainless steel, transparent resin, carbon fiber PETG, and even 316L steel. Additionally, many materials can be customized in color, wall thickness, infill, and more. You can easily upload any file you own, as Craftcloud accepts 35 different file types, including STL, STEP, ZIP, OBJ, and many more to fit nearly any model you could make.
If your designs can’t be made in Los Angeles, Craftcloud can easily help you find a manufacturer near you who can meet your 3D printing needs and deliver parts to your doorstep.
Hollywood 3D Printing
Located in Los Angeles’ most iconic neighborhood, Hollywood 3D Printing bills itself as a “full service creative partner”. In addition to offering a diverse array of custom fabrication services, they do 3D design work as well as 3D scanning.
The printing technologies on offer include fused deposition modeling (FDM), resin, and selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing with prints executed in ABS, resin, and nylon, respectively. Their post-processing services can take parts over the finish line, and judging from their gallery of work, the results are excellent!
Hollywood 3D Printing has a 4.8-star rating on Google with the majority of reviews being very positive. Entertainment industry heavyweights such as Warner Brothers, FX, and RCA Records are among their clients. Customers can request a quote online after signing up and submitting the model(s) to be analyzed by the project engineering team, or receive an instant quote after registering and including the relevant information. Completed orders can be picked up curbside or shipped directly to customers.
- Technologies: FDM, SLS, resin
- Supported file formats: STL, OBJ, STEP, IGES
- Pricing information: Instant quote available with account, minimum order price
There You Have It 3D Printing
Inglewood-based There You Have It 3D Printing offers 3D printing and scanning services – all executed by highly skilled IATSE union craftspeople. Their machines include desktop and industrial FDM and resin 3D printers, as well as PolyJet, Multi Jet Fusion (MJS), and SLS machines. The diverse array of printers translates into a wide spectrum of materials, including common materials like ABS, PLA, PETG, and TPU, as well as more performance-oriented materials like nylon, carbon fiber composites, and tough resins.
Custom 3D design services are also available. Quotes for these as well as the other available services can be requested via a form on their website by including the relevant information. The lead times vary depending on the type of work you need done, but same-day and expedited services may be possible.
There You Have It’s client base is largely from the entertainment industry, and their Instagram feed features many of the cool projects they’ve worked on. Their reviews on Google are for the most part all very positive, and the fact that they have repeat customers is a testament to the quality of the work they do.
- Technologies: FDM, SLS, resin, PolyJet, Multi Jet Fusion
- Supported file formats: STL, OBJ, STP, STEP, IGES, 3MF
- Pricing information: Online quote request, same-day and expedited services
West LA 3D Printing
West LA 3D Printing is a comprehensive 3D printing service provider that offers a wide range of services, including product design, reverse engineering, 3D scanning, printing, and mold casting. The company totes extensive experience in architectural models, and they describe themselves as the “number one model maker in Southern California”.
When it comes to 3D printing, the company is outfitted with FDM, resin, and PolyJet printers. Customers can submit a quote request online, specifying the type of technology and material they want for their project. One- to two-day lead times are typical, but same-day services may also be possible.
West LA 3D printing has a 4.9-star rating on Google with several reviews praising the owner’s friendliness, expertise, and customer service skills. Besides architectural firms, the company’s client base is varied and includes individuals as well as large corporations.
- Technologies: FDM, resin, PolyJet
- Supported file formats: STL, OBJ, STP, IGES – although the online quote request accepts only STL and OBJ
- Pricing information: Online quote request, same-day services
Fab Labs & Makerspaces
In the vibrant landscape of Los Angeles, the fab lab and makerspace scene thrives, channeling innovation and creating opportunities for collaborative projects. These communal spaces offer an array of tools and equipment that would be otherwise too expensive or require too much space for the average maker. The following are a few of the options Los Angeles has to offer:
- Los Angeles Public Library Labs are free makerspaces hosted at public libraries. The Octavia and Koreatown Media labs both have 3D printers. Other resources include CNC and cutting machines, VR, digital media stations, photography sets, and much more.
- UCLA Samueli Makerspace caters to students in UCLA’s engineering program. Their equipment includes a dozen 3D printers, laser cutters, and a ton of other goodies for engineers.
- Hexlab Makerspace is a private makerspace that offers memberships along with professional design and fabrication services. They have a lot by way of equipment, including FDM, resin, and PolyJet printers.
License: The text of "3D Printing Services in Los Angeles We Recommend" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.