A: Usually you should see the cost instantly after system analyse the 3D file. If you don’t see the cost instantly there maybe some major error in your file that the system couldn’t process it:

1) Multi intersecting objects in the model.
Please merge all parts together and export a single solid object (watertight) in the format of STL or OBJ.

2) Non-manifold object.
Check and fix the model manual make sure it is a printable 3D model.

Here are some articles on the non-manifold:

• Non-manifolds: Your Worst 3D Printing Nightmare

• Non-Manifold Edges: Facts & Fixes

• Removing non-manifold mesh elements to create a manifold mesh using Blender

3) Thin wall on part
Check out the minimum wall thickness for the printing method you’ve chosen.

4) Part size to tiny or too huge
Export your file in the unit of millimeter (mm), part/object size bigger than the printer build size will be resized by the system automatically to fit in the build size, please check the Model Dimensions shown at the information table.

A: We can help checking your parts printability, but we don’t check your design. You are the one familiar with the part design, please check carefully before uploading.

1) You have to upload your 3D STL or OBJ file(s) and place order. Yes, have to place order so we can have a record and get the files to check.

2) During check out page select the option “Please check file printability”. You won’t be charged yet until we check the part(s).

3) Text us on the input field if you need to know the estimation printing time.

4) You will received system notification to proceed payment if they are printable. The order will be cancelled if the part(s) are unprintable.

5) Proceed payment and we can start process your order.

A: We can’t have the estimated printing time by given model size, it need to be calculated by the software.

Please be understand that it is an estimated lead time, the printing process may be slightly shorter or longer, if you have multiple parts, the part is intricate or the part is big in size, it may take longer.

Do note that if your order is printing with FDM machine, it may take time and sometime may have the risk of fail print if the part is having intricate design. We may still need to carefully remove the support material from the printed parts.

We will print the part with minimum risk based on our experience, but low risk doesn’t mean no risk. It’ll be great to plan your project with longer time for 3D printing process. We appreciate for you understanding and patience.

Follow these step so we can check your file(s):

1) You have to upload your 3D STL or OBJ file(s) and place order. Yes, have to place order so we can have a record and get the files to check.

2) During check out page select the option “Please check file printability”. You won’t be charged yet until we check the part(s).

3) Text us on the input field if you need to know the estimation printing time.

4) You will received system notification to proceed payment if they are printable. The order will be cancelled if the part(s) are unprintable.

5) Proceed payment and we can start process your order.

A: We suggest to upload your stl file to Netfabb Online Service to fixed the posibily error, it’s free. Download and double check the fixed file, to make sure it is fixed correctly before uploading to our website.

If we notice any part is having error, we will try fixing the model with Netfabb Online Service. Anything can’t be fixed by Netfabb, we will contact you to fix send the amended file(s) to us.

We may need you to top up the cost difference of amended model.

A: We have disabled STP or STEP from the uploading format.

The system is best processing STL or OBJ format, very often the STP files included unwanted parts or unprintable 3D object.

A: We will not share, sell or distribute your file or information to non-relavent party, if your file is FDM PLA printing.

Completed files will be kept 1 month, files will be deleted after 1 month. You can send us a Non-disclosure Agreement for us to sign is it’s needed.

A: I’m afraid we are unable to give a quotation base on a photo or by dimension given.
3D printing cost is calculated base on the volume and time, it will be calculated by the system base on the 3D model that is uploaded. Different objects could have similar bounding box size but very different volume, the cost and printing time can be drasically different as well.
If you just need a rough cost, you can prepare and upload a simple similar shape of the final object that you want. The system will calculate the cost for you.

A: FDM Printing usually don’t print an object solid, instead we just printing in certain percentage of infill. This is to cut down printing time and cost. The higher percentage the infill is, the more solid the printed object is. Beside the solidness, infill also act as a support for the roof of the object, in some cases, printing without infill may causing the top of the part collapse. 20% is the most common setting to be used, it printed in shoter time and given a relatively sufficient support to the object top / roof.

A: The layer height define the thickness of each layer, 3D printing process deposit material layer by layer to form an object. The smaller the number of the layer height, the thinner the layer is, thinner layer heigh create smoother surface, just to take note it will increase the printing time significantly as well. For normal usage prototyping, 200 micron is good enough.

Just to take note, 200 or 100 micron layer height doesn’t mean it can print even thinner detail. The extrusion is determined by the nozzle size, which is a standard 0.4mm installed on all our 3D printers.

A: It depend on the size of your part(s), beside that number of parts and intricacy will also affect the processing time. 3D printing take times, it will be great to allocate sufficient time for the process, in case of fail print, it may take more time to reprint.

For our office operation hour visit Contact Us.

For shipping related question please visit FAQ Shipping.

A: We are using printers with build size 22 x 22 x 25cm and 30 x 30 x 40cm. We don’t suggest to use up the maximum size when preparing file. It’ll be great the part is 1 or 2 cm smaller than the build size.

A: If you have specific orientation of your 3D model to be printed, please change the position accordingly, at the left we will have a check for you.

If it’s not set we will decide the best orientation for your 3D moded.

Left panel below the perview canvas.

A: Yes, in most cases we will remove the support material for customers. Only when some circumstanses below we may unable to help remove the support:

1) The part is thin and the support is a lot.

2) The support are in the cavity.

3) Part is too intricate.

Hope you can understand, we really don’t wish to break the parts during the process of removing the support.

A: The rough surface could be the overhang area. Overhang area will need support underneath so that the molten plastic can still form the desire shape. There is an empty layer in between support and the actual object, so the support can be removed easily when the part printed, it’s technically printing in the air on those overhang area, this is why those area can’t print proper like the rest of the area and become rougher.

We don’t use water soluble material for support, as most of our 3D printers are single extruder. Using water soluble material will incur extra meterial cost and printing time.

A: If the parts are mean to be fit together, make sure there are alloance given, we suggest 0.2mm for the allowance.

Upto 90% of the orders, we have no idea what are they for. Kinldy check your part properly before uploading, we can only check the printability, we ara unable to check on the design.

A: We can only check the printability of your parts, most of the time we don’t know what is the part for, therefore we don’t check the design. Customer knew the design better, will have to take the responsibility on double check the design before uploading.

If we notice there maybe any posibily error or area that could causing any issue during printing, we will contact customer to check again, but we don’t responsible for design error.

A: Our FDM 3D printers are using standard 0.4mm nozzle, almost all miniature or mini figurine are having very thin parts, way thinner than then 0.4mm. Anything thinner than the nozzle diameter are unable to be processed by the software as the setting is mean for 0.4mm nozzle. Other than the thin feature, most of the miniature figurine need masive support material, the support material could be bolder than the figurine itself, it’s very easy to be broken during support removal process.