3D Printing
Have a design? We'll manufacture it.
Send an existing STL, STEP, 3MF, or OBJ file and we'll handle material, printing, and finishing.
Applications
Common uses for finished prints
- Prototypes
- Functional parts
- Mechanical adapters
- Custom tools
- Replacement components
- Mounting brackets
- Electronics enclosures
- Fixtures
- Display models
- Scale models
- Decorative pieces
- Art pieces
File Formats
Supported design file formats
STEP files are particularly useful if the design needs modification before printing. STL and 3MF are ready-to-print mesh formats.
.stl
Most common format for 3D printing
.step
Especially useful if modifications are required
.3mf
Retains more print-specific detail than STL
.obj
Supported for most geometry
Guidance
Material, quantity, and tolerances
Material: Specify what you want and we’ll print in it. The full breakdown is on the Capabilities page. If you’d like a recommendation, select “Not Sure” on your quote request and describe how the part will be used, and we’ll suggest a material suited to the job.
Quantity: Well suited to single prototypes, one-off replacement parts, and low-volume production runs.
Tolerances: Achievable accuracy depends on geometry, material, print orientation, and part size. Let us know which dimensions are critical so we can account for them.
Surface finish: FDM printing produces visible layer lines; orientation can be chosen to keep critical or visible surfaces smoother.
What We Need
Information to include with your request
- Model
- Quantity
- Intended use
- Material
- Colour
- Critical dimensions
- Required completion date
Finishing & Post-Processing
Finished, not just printed.
Every printed part is inspected and cleaned before delivery. Standard post-processing is included and may involve support removal, deburring, filing of rough edges, removal of strings or minor print artifacts, cleanup of support-contact areas, and general visual inspection as appropriate for the part.
- Support removal
- Deburring
- Filing rough edges
- Removing strings and minor print artifacts
- Cleaning support-contact surfaces
- Minor manual finishing where required
- General visual inspection
You receive a finished and cleaned component, not a raw print removed directly from the printer. Standard post-processing does not remove all visible layer lines or produce a fully smooth cosmetic finish. See the optional finishes below for that.
The face of the part that contacts the build plate can have a different appearance depending on the plate used.
Smooth Plate
The face contacting the build plate receives a relatively smooth, flat finish.
Suitable for
- Cosmetic bottom surfaces
- Clean flat surfaces
- Parts where a smoother first-layer appearance is preferred
- Flat mating surfaces where appropriate
Textured Plate
The face contacting the build plate receives a fine textured, matte appearance.
Suitable for
- Cosmetic components
- Uniform matte surfaces
- Hiding minor first-layer variation
- Parts where a textured first-layer finish is preferred
Build plate selection primarily affects the face of the part that contacts the build plate. Other surfaces will retain the normal FDM printed finish.
Acetone vapor smoothing is only available for parts printed in ABS or ASA. The process works by briefly exposing the part to acetone vapour, and only these materials dissolve in acetone, so it cannot be used on PLA, PETG or TPU. On a compatible part it reduces visible layer lines and produces a smoother, more uniform, more aesthetic surface finish.
Best suited for
- Cosmetic enclosures
- Covers
- Housings
- Display components
- Parts where appearance is a higher priority
May not be suitable for
- Precision fits
- Tight-tolerance interfaces
- Small detailed features
- Critical mating surfaces
Heat-set metal threaded inserts can be installed into appropriately designed printed parts to provide stronger and more durable threaded connections than repeatedly fastening directly into printed plastic.
Suitable for
- Electronics enclosures
- Covers and panels
- Equipment brackets
- Repeated assembly/disassembly
- Mechanical assemblies
- Mounting systems
- Insert size and thread requirements should be specified when requesting a quote.
- Existing models may require modification to properly accommodate inserts.
- Insert installation is optional and not automatically included.
Don’t have a printable model yet? Our Design + Print service can help turn your idea, sketch, or existing part into a finished design.
Ready to send us your file?
Upload your model and project details and we'll follow up with a quote.