Frequently asked questions

Your model stays on your device while the estimate is calculated and is uploaded only when you submit an order. It is not added to a permanent design library: we use it only to review, prepare, print and quality-check your order, and for an immediate quality issue or authorised reprint. The uploaded model and stored production files are deleted within 30 days after fulfilment or cancellation, so a repeat order requires a new upload. We may add coarse anonymous price and usage bands directly to daily service totals unless you object in Cookie settings. With Analytics consent we may also record the filename, estimate, settings and checkout stage for up to 90 days, but never the model contents. See the model-file section of our Privacy Notice for details.

An STL is the most common 3D printing file format. It describes the surface of a 3D model as a mesh of triangles, ready to be sliced and printed. Almost every CAD and 3D modelling program can export one, and it's what you upload here to get an instant quote.

3MF is a newer 3D printing format that stores the model plus extra data such as colours, units and print settings in a single file. We accept both STL and 3MF. If you want a multicolour print, upload a painted 3MF through our custom request form.

The price you see is the price you pay. The moment you upload a file we measure its volume, size and weight right in your browser and price it from real material and machine costs, then you pay that exact total securely at checkout. We check every file by hand before printing — and if we ever can't print your file as quoted, we refund you in full. Quotes are locked for 7 days.

Yes — that's exactly how it works. Upload your STL (or 3MF) file to the instant quote tool, choose your print options, and pay the model-specific price shown. We hand-check the file, print it in Norfolk, England, and post it to you fully tracked across the UK. There's no minimum order and no need to email first just to get a price.

Absolutely — you don't need a printer, slicing software or any experience. Upload your model, order, and we handle the machine, material, supports and quality checks and post the finished part to you. Our guide "how to get an STL printed if you don't own a 3D printer" walks through it.

Yes. We're a UK online service based in Norfolk, England and we post to any UK address, fully tracked with Royal Mail — Tracked 48 from £2.90 (Royal Mail aims for 2–3 working days after dispatch), or a next-working-day Tracked 24 upgrade from £3.90. You can follow every order on our Track page.

Our standard material is premium PLA+ — an upgraded PLA that's stronger, less brittle and more heat-tolerant than basic PLA, with an excellent surface finish. It's ideal for prototypes, display parts, enclosures and everyday functional parts. We also print PETG, TPU, PLA-CF and PETG-CF, available through the custom print form.

Yes — rapid prototyping is one of the main things we do. Upload your STL or 3MF and have a functional prototype in hand within days, with no tooling or minimum order. It's ideal for engineers, product designers, inventors, students and startups validating a design before committing to production.

Absolutely. If you have (or can model) an STL of a broken clip, bracket, knob, gear, housing or other plastic part, we can reprint it in durable PLA+. It's a fast, affordable way to fix appliances, equipment and out-of-production items instead of replacing the whole thing.

No — we're a print service, not a design studio. You supply a print-ready STL or 3MF and we print it exactly as designed. The one exception: if your mesh isn't watertight we can usually repair that automatically at no charge (the quote page flags it if yours needs it). We don't model, modify or reverse-engineer parts. If you need something designed, a freelance 3D modeller can create the file for you — see our "Where to find 3D models" page for where to download ready-made models or commission a custom one.

There are millions of free, ready-made models to download. Good places to start are Printables, MakerWorld, Thingiverse, Cults3D, MyMiniFactory and Thangs — see our "Where to find 3D models" page for the full list. One thing to check before you order: each model has a licence (often Creative Commons). Most are free to print for yourself, but some are non-commercial or personal-use only, and by ordering you confirm you have the right to print the file. We can't print copyrighted or trademarked designs you don't have the rights to.

The quote page checks each file as you upload it and warns you if the mesh isn't watertight (holes or gaps). We can usually repair minor issues automatically at no charge. We also do a manual check before accepting any order, and we'll get in touch if a file can't be printed reliably — you're never charged for a print we can't do properly.

Our build volume is 250 × 250 × 250 mm, so any single part must fit within that. Bigger models can often be split into sections and joined — add a note to your order or email us and we'll quote it by hand.

You can order multiple identical copies right from the quote card. The first copy includes preparation; each additional identical copy shares that work and gets a further 10% off, so extra copies cost less than the first — the quote card shows the exact per-copy price as you change the quantity. Different uploaded models are priced separately.

Yes. We regularly print prototypes, jigs, fixtures, enclosures and small production runs for engineers, product developers and small businesses across the UK. No account or minimum order is required — for repeat or higher-volume work, get in touch and we'll sort out batch pricing.

Yes. Volume pricing is applied automatically as the quantity rises, so a larger order already costs less per part. For runs of around 100 or more, or for recurring production where every unit must match an agreed specification, get in touch and we'll review your parts for bespoke batch pricing, subject to capacity and scheduling.

An instant quote is the self-serve route for one-offs and smaller batches: upload a file, get a model-specific price and pay online. A production run is for larger quantities, repeat orders, or parts that must be consistent to an agreed specification with a sample approved before the full run — arranged directly with us rather than through instant checkout. If you're not sure which you need, order one instantly and scale up later.

No. By ordering you confirm you own or are licensed to use the design you upload. We won't print designs you are not authorised to reproduce, products intended or marketed as children's toys, real or imitation firearms, weapon parts or accessories, other lethal weapons, or anything illegal to make in the UK. Lawful non-weapon cosplay props, decorative models, foam-dart accessories, stands and mounts may be accepted after review — see our Terms for the full policy.

Usually just 1 day — most orders are made and dispatched the next day after we confirm them. Larger prints or a busy queue can take a little longer (typically up to 4 days). The quote card shows a live "ready to post" estimate, and we confirm your slot within 24 hours of your order request.

Every UK order is sent fully tracked via Royal Mail, with proof of delivery and a tracking number you can follow on our Track page. The standard service is Tracked 48 from £2.90 (Royal Mail aims for 2–3 working days after dispatch); at checkout you can upgrade to Tracked 24 from £3.90 (Royal Mail aims for the next working day). The exact postage depends on size and weight and is confirmed with your order.

Instant quotes are single-colour PLA+ (black, white, blue or red). For multicolour prints or specialist materials (PETG, TPU, carbon-fibre filaments) use our custom request form — upload a painted 3MF for multicolour, and we'll confirm availability and price before any payment.

You pay when you order. For instant STL/3MF quotes you pay the price shown securely at checkout — card payments are handled by Stripe, so we never see your card details — and we start printing once payment clears. Custom or multicolour requests are quoted by hand first, then paid via a secure link. Your model is analysed entirely in your browser and only uploaded to private storage when you order; we never share your files and delete them after fulfilment. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Use the Track page with your order reference (shown on the confirmation screen and in our emails) and the email you ordered with. You'll see exactly where it is at each stage: received, confirmed, paid, queued for printing, printing, packing, packed and dispatched — with your Royal Mail tracking number once it's on its way.

Contact us as soon as possible. Prints are made to your specification, so the usual statutory 14-day change-of-mind right does not normally apply. Separately, our own more generous policy gives you a full refund if you ask us to cancel before your order is queued for printing (shown on your tracking page). Your statutory remedies for faulty, misdescribed or transit-damaged goods are unaffected. See our Terms for details.