A few minutes of checking before you upload saves a reprint. This is the checklist we use ourselves.
Export it correctly
- Export as STL or 3MF. 3MF keeps units and multiple parts together; STL works everywhere.
- Use millimetres. If your model shows up tiny in the quote tool it was probably exported in inches or centimetres; the tool has one-click fixes for both.
- Each piece must fit within 256 × 256 × 256 mm. Bigger models can be split into parts.
Make it printable
- The mesh should be watertight (manifold), with no holes or loose faces. Most CAD and sculpting programs have a repair or check tool.
- Keep walls at least 1.2 mm thick. Thinner walls are fragile and may not print at all.
- Raised or engraved text should be at least 0.5 mm deep with strokes about 1 mm wide to stay readable.
- Overhangs steeper than about 45° need support material. Where you can, add a chamfer or flip the part so its flat face sits on the bed.
Parts that fit together
- Leave 0.2–0.3 mm of clearance between parts that slide or snap together.
- Holes print slightly small. Add about 0.2 mm to the diameter for screws and pins.
- Prints are strongest along the layers and weakest between them. Tell us which direction the load comes from and we will orient the part to suit.
Tell us what matters
Use the notes box to say which face must look perfect, which dimensions are critical and what the part is for. We check every uploaded file before printing and get in touch if something will not print well.