FAQs
The reasons for using a 3D printer are fundamentally the same as for using other rapid prototyping technologies i.e. SLA & SLS, which is to share information, to make a one-off component, to verify your design, to make an ornament and many others. The difference being now you can afford to do so.
3D printing machines are optimised for speed, low cost and ease of use which makes them suitable for visualising designs during the conceptual stages of your design when properties such as mechanical strength is less important.
3D printing works by converting a 3D digital design into thin cross sections. This information is then sent to the machine where it starts to deposit material layer by layer, thus creating a 3-Dimensional object. For a more detailed explanation and videos of the process please visit our explanation page in the 3D Knowledge Bank.What is the typical turnaround time?
This is dependant on the size of your model and our workload at the time of ordering. Typically you can expect a turnaround of 1-2 working days for our Express option and up to 7 working days before we ship with our Low Cost option. If your model is urgent then please let us know when we quote and we may be able to prioritise your model and it could take as little as 24 hours to ship.How does 3D printing compare with other rapid prototyping technologies?
3D printing technology
is cheaper, faster and more accurate than SLA and SLS machines, and with the
added bonus of no nasty chemicals, powders or resins to handle it is better for
the environment as well.
A typical SLS machine uses a layer size of 0.15mm whereas the Objet technology uses a
0.028mm layer size (that’s about half the thickness of a human hair!) so the resulting surface finish is superior to SLA & SLS technologies.
FDM on the other hand
uses a 0.25mm layer size but uses an ABS plastic material which is ideal for
living hinges and click fittings. Also SLA & SLS machines can only produce
parts in one colour, whereas the Z Corp machine is unique in that it can print
in multiple colours on the same component.
Each 3D printing technology has its advantages and disadvantages so have a look at our materials page to determine which technology will be best for your project.
I don't want to use the website to request a quote, what can I do instead?
Thats no problem, just email your enquiry to info@3dcreationlab.co.uk and attach your file(s) to the email. If your file(s) are over 10Mb then please use the free file upload service YouSendit where you can upload up to 100Mb. Alternatively give us a call on 01275 390440 to discuss your project.You can pay by credit card or Paypal through our Sage pay gateway or if you are a business customer we can open a business account for you after your first order has been processed on a pro-forma basis. After this you will be invoiced after each job.
Can I pay by invoice or cheque?
Yes, if you are a business customer we can set up an account for you after your first order has been processed and you will then be invoiced after each job.
If you wish to pay for a one off job by cheque please email us at info@3dcreationlab.co.uk and we can arrange for your job to be processed once the cheque has been received.
Do we do discounts for higher volumes?
On models that are priced with our volume costing it is not possible to offer volume discounts because of the way in which the cost is calculated. It costs us the same per printed model whether there is 1 off or 100 off.
For the non-volume costed materials we will offer volume discounts where ever it is possible.
Which file formats do we accept?
Our preferred file format is STL, but the following monochrome file formats can also be accepted:
*.DAE Collada
*.3DS 3D Studio
*.OBJ Wavefront
*.PLY Stanford polygon file
*.V3D Epoch Reconstructed mesh
*.OFF Object file format
*.PTX PTX file format
*.ALN ALN Project
For colour printing the following formats are accepted:
*.PLY Stanford polygon file Basic colours only
*.VRML Virtual Reality mark-up language Texture map and colour, GIS, FEA and colour assemblies
*.3DS 3D Studio Full colour and texture mapped geometryIf you have any queries regarding file formats please contact us at service@3dcreationlab.co.uk
I don't have a 3D digital model, can you still give me a price?
To calculate the price for your model we need to import it into our specialist 3D printing software. Unfortunately there is no way of calculating the price without doing this so we cant give prices without a 3D digital model.
Yes we can, but it carries an extra charge which is dependant on the number of errors in your mesh. If you want to minimise errors our tutorials section has some information on exporting STL files and checking your own mesh. Yes we do, anywhere you like. International shipping charges will apply.If you are inside
the European Union (EU) and you are an individual unfortunately you will have
to pay value added tax (or VAT) on top of the prices shown on this page, the current rate of VAT is 17.5%. If
you are a business within the EU (excluding the
Austria,
Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, except the Faroe Islands and
Greenland, Estonia, Finland, France, including Monaco, Germany, except Busingen
and the Isle of Heligoland, Greece, Hungary, The Republic of Ireland, Italy,
except the communes of Livigno and Campione d’Italia and the Italian waters of
Lake Lugano, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira, Slovakia, Spain, including the
Balearic Islands but excluding Ceuta and Melilla, Slovenia, Sweden, United
Kingdom and the Isle of Man.
The following
countries although in the EU are considered to be outside of the EU fiscal area
and therefore are exempt from VAT: (not quite so big a breath!)
The Aland Islands, Andorra, The Canary
Islands, The Channel Islands, The overseas departments of France (Guadeloupe,
Martinique, Réunion, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and French Guiana), Gibraltar,
Mount Athos, San Marino, The Vatican City
Can I cancel once I have placed my order?
It is dependant on where your model is the manufacturing process. If we have started to produce the model or we have started repairing your mesh then cancellation will not be possible. If we have not carried out any processing then cancellation may be possible, please email service@3dcreationlab.co.uk as soon as possible if you need to cancel and we will let you know whether it will be possible.Delivery options for the UK only:
Standard Delivery: £7.50*
Guaranteed Next Day £15.00
Next day before 9:00am £25.00
*= Only available on items that weigh less than 250g
For international shipping a typical example would be a 250g package to the USA would cost £15.00 for a 4 day delivery. The list is too long to put in the FAQ's so please contact us for price information on International shipping to where you live.
Can I have a model shipped to a different address other than my own?
Yes you can. Please ensure that your payment address is the one registered to the credit card you are paying with.Is there anywhere I can get more help?
Go to our 3D Knowledge bank section for more information on our processes. If you can’t find what you are looking for then please contact us on service@3dcreationlab.co.ukI have received a leaflet with a discount code, how do I use it?
If you have received one of our leaflets offering a 10% discount with your first order you need to enter the code into the comments box when requesting a quote. We will then apply a 10% discount to the build costs of your model. The only restriction for the promotion is that your model must be ordered through the website.
