3D Printer on Demand

Use this when someone attaches an STL, 3MF, STEP or OBJ file and wants to know whether it will 3D print well: size, walls, mesh problems and what to change. It reads the file, runs the same automatic design checks as our website, and stores nothing. It gives no quote. When no file is attached, it returns a link to upload the file on our website.

Use this when someone wants to compare 3D printing with injection molding for a quantity, using their own numbers: quantity, printed unit cost, tooling cost and molded unit cost. It returns the totals for each, the crossover quantity on those numbers, and the published range with sources. It makes up no cost, and when a number is missing it says which.

Use this when someone asks how to design a part for FDM 3D printing: wall thickness, tolerances, hole clearances, overhangs and supports, orientation, infill, bosses, ribs, snap fits, threaded inserts, dimensional accuracy, published material figures, or printing compared with molding or machining. It takes a topic or the question and returns short answers with their published sources and a link to the full page. It does not check a specific file.

Use this when someone wants a quote to have a 3D model (an STL, 3MF, STEP or OBJ file) printed and shipped by 3D Printer on Demand. It reads the attached file, checks that it can be printed, saves the quote, and returns the estimate with a private link that opens the saved quote on our website. When no file is attached, or the file type cannot be read, it returns a link to upload the file on our website. It does not cover drawings or photos.

Use this when someone asks how 3D Printer on Demand works: lead time, shipping, how long a quote is held, accepted file types, the largest part, the items we refuse to print, or where to upload a file, request a review or get in touch. It returns these facts as our website publishes them.

Use this when someone asks which plastics 3D Printer on Demand prints, which colors each comes in, which material suits a job, or which materials are quoted by a person. It returns each material with what it is for, what it is not advised for, its colors and how it is quoted, plus plain guidance on comparing them. It returns no engineering figures.

Use this when someone wants help choosing which of our plastics suits a part, from where it will be used: indoor or outdoor, heat, impact, flexing, chemicals, looks and material cost. It returns the materials we offer that fit, best match first, the reasons in plain words, and the ones ruled out and why. It does not rank materials by strength or stiffness, and it sends safety-critical parts to a person.

Use this when someone asks what clearance or hole size to draw for a printed fit: a sliding part, a bolt or pin through a hole, two printed parts that mate, a press fit, or a snap fit. It returns published starting clearances and hole guidance, each with its source, and how to test the fit. It gives no single universal hole offset, because none is published.

Use this when someone wants a different quantity or color on a quote 3D Printer on Demand already gave them. It takes that quote's private link and the new quantity, works out the estimate again from the file saved with the quote, saves it, and returns the new estimate with a new private link. The earlier link keeps the earlier quote. It does not take a new file, a different material, or a link that did not come from one of our quotes.