Help
FAQ
Quick answers about quotes, materials, lead times, shipping and quality — if you don’t see your question here, just message us.
Getting a quote
How do I get a quote?
Use the quote form and upload your file(s). If you don’t have a file, you can still request a quote with a short brief (what the part needs to do), photos/sketches and key dimensions.
What file formats do you accept?
We accept stl, step, 3mf and obj. If you have a native CAD file (STEP or project files), edits are typically faster and more accurate than working from STL.
I don’t know which material to choose — can you help?
Yes. Tell us how the part will be used (strength, heat exposure, flexibility, surface finish, indoors/outdoors) and we’ll recommend the best option.
Can you review my file before printing?
Yes — we can check printability and flag typical issues (fragile walls, tight clearances, support-sensitive geometry) before production.
FDM 3D printing (filament)
What is FDM best for?
FDM is ideal for functional parts, enclosures, brackets, mounts, jigs/fixtures, prototypes and small-batch production.
What’s the maximum size you can print?
Single-piece FDM prints can be produced up to 420 × 420 × 480 mm depending on geometry and orientation.
If you need something larger, parts can be split into sections and printed separately, with alignment features for clean assembly (bonding/assembly can be quoted if needed).
What layer heights and nozzles do you use?
Typical layer heights are 0.16–0.20 mm (with options from 0.06–0.30 mm depending on the goal).
Standard nozzles are 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm; 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm are available on request for faster production and more robust walls.
What materials do you offer for FDM?
Common options include PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, Nylon, TPU, and carbon-filled PLA. If you’re unsure, we’ll recommend the best match based on the real use case.
Do you offer many colours?
Yes — PLA has a wide in-stock colour range. PETG has a core colour range. Engineering materials (ABS/ASA/Nylon/TPU) are typically stocked in practical colours (black/white/natural), with sourcing available on request.
How accurate are FDM parts?
Accuracy depends on geometry, material and orientation. For well-designed parts, we can achieve high dimensional consistency (up to ±0.2%).
If your project needs a tight fit, we can run test prints and measurement-led iterations until the fit is right (agreed upfront).
Resin 3D printing (MSLA)
When should I choose resin over FDM?
Resin is best when you need very fine detail, smooth surfaces and crisp small features — for miniatures, figurines, master models, stamps/seals and small precision components.
What resin print quality do you offer?
Typical layer heights are 0.05 mm (standard), 0.03 mm (fine detail) and 0.10 mm (draft).
What resins are available?
We stock water-washable resin as a default option (grey recommended for consistency), plus standard, ABS-like, and flexible resin on request (geometry dependent).
Why do you recommend grey resin?
Grey resins typically provide the best dimensional consistency. White and clear can require additional tuning when needed (because light behaves differently during exposure).
Are resin parts shipped “ready to use”?
Yes — resin orders include a full workflow as standard: support removal → thorough washing/cleaning → controlled drying → final UV curing → QC + safe packaging.
Can you hollow resin parts to reduce cost?
Yes — by agreement. For larger models we can propose hollowing, drainage holes and a cleaning approach that ensures internal cavities are properly washed and dried. We’ll explain the trade-offs and confirm with you before proceeding.
Lead times & scheduling
How long does a typical order take?
Small orders are typically 2–3 business days. Urgent jobs can sometimes ship the same day if timing allows.
What about larger batches?
For batches (e.g., 50–500+ parts), lead times are often 3–7 days depending on part complexity, settings and finishing. We confirm timelines before production.
Do you offer first-article samples for batches?
Yes — we can produce a first-article / sample run before the full batch, which is recommended for larger commercial orders.
Shipping, delivery & collection
Do you ship across the UK?
Yes — UK shipping is standard and sent with tracking.
Which couriers do you use?
Typically Royal Mail, Evri, and DPD. In special cases, we can use UPS or Yodel. We’ll choose a balanced option by default (reputation/time/price), and you can request a specific service if you prefer.
Can I choose an express option?
Yes — options like Royal Mail Special Delivery (by 1pm) or DPD Next Day can be arranged on request.
How is shipping priced?
Shipping is charged separately and billed at courier cost (no markup). Price depends on packed size, weight and service level.
Do you offer same-day local delivery?
If timing allows, yes — same-day delivery by car can be arranged locally (Cambridge/Huntingdon/Peterborough direction). Availability depends on workload, print completion time and distance.
Can I collect locally?
Yes — collection is available by appointment in Brampton, Huntingdon (PE28 4SU area). Exact pickup details are shared after confirming a time.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes — international shipping is available on request and is sent with tracking (commonly via Royal Mail or UPS depending on the job).
Who pays customs/import fees?
Import taxes, VAT and customs fees are the buyer’s responsibility. If prepayment is required for your destination, we’ll confirm it with you before dispatch.
How are parts packaged?
Parts are packed to match the job. Small items may ship in padded mailers to keep shipping affordable; larger or fragile prints are boxed and protected. We also reuse clean, strong packaging from 3D printing supplies where appropriate (a practical upcycling approach).
What if my parcel is lost or damaged?
If a tracked parcel hasn’t arrived within 10 working days after dispatch, we’ll offer either a full refund (including shipping) or a reprint and reship.
If items arrive damaged, contact us with photos (box + items) and we’ll agree a fair solution — replacement or refund.
Finishing, QC and business orders
What finishing is included by default?
FDM: sensible print settings + basic support removal + safe packaging.
Resin: support removal + washing/cleaning + controlled drying + UV curing + safe packaging.
What optional services can you do?
Depending on the project: sanding/clean-up, bonding/assembly, heat-set brass inserts, providing bolts, priming/painting, individual bagging/labels/kitting, NFC embedding, and measurement reporting.
Can you provide measurement reports?
Yes — by agreement. We can provide annotated measurement points, photos showing how dimensions are measured, and a table (Excel/CSV). Where relevant, we can include a comparison vs CAD and deviation (%).
Do you support commercial orders?
Yes. We can support small and mid-size business orders, repeat reorders with revision tracking, and first-article samples where needed. See Batch & Commercial Orders.
Can you sign an NDA?
Yes — confidentiality can be agreed upfront, and we can sign a customer-provided NDA where required.
Design & file support
Can you help if I don’t have a perfect file?
Yes — we can assist with practical file prep and CAD-based adjustments so parts print reliably and fit as intended. See 3D Design & File Support.
Do you offer 3D scanning or organic character sculpting?
Not currently. Our design support focuses on parametric CAD and geometry-based parts (enclosures, brackets, mounts, spacers, functional components). If you already have an organic model file, we can prepare it for printing and produce it as a print job.
Still have a question?
Use Get a Quote for files and pricing, or Contact for general questions.
Ready to print?
Send your file (or your idea) and we’ll reply fast with options and a clear quote.