Specification
What we can make, to what tolerance, and by when
Everything below applies to FDM 3D printing run from our own workshop in Folkestone for businesses across Kent. The figures a buyer needs before sending an enquiry: build envelope, tolerance, materials, file formats, lead times, batch limits and the jobs we will tell you to take somewhere else.
- Build envelope
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- Typical tolerance
- ±0.3 mm
- Materials
- 9 stocked
- Standard lead time
- 5–7 working days
Build envelope
Anything up to 256 × 256 × 256 mm in one piece
Every machine in the workshop shares the same 256 × 256 × 256 mm envelope and a 0.4 mm nozzle, so a job can run on whichever plate is free without changing the result.
| Machine | Build volume | Nozzle | Enclosed | What it runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bambu Lab P1P | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 0.4 mm | Yes | ABS, ASA and the larger, faster jobs |
| Bambu Lab A1 | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 0.4 mm | No | PLA, PETG, TPU and everything under 40 cm³ of plastic |
Parts larger than the envelope are not a dead end. We split them along a seam that suits the geometry, add locating pins so the sections align without a jig, and put the joint where it will not be looked at. Bonded PETG and ABS joints are close to parent-material strength; PLA joints are weaker and we will orient the split so the load does not run across it. Send the file and we will propose the split before quoting.
Tolerance
±0.3 mm, and what that actually means for a fit
On a part up to 100 mm, expect the printed dimension to land within about 0.3 mm of the model. Larger parts drift a little further as the material contracts. That figure is the honest one, not the best one we have ever measured.
Three effects account for almost all of it. Holes print undersized, because each layer of a curve is laid as a series of straight moves inside the intended circle: allow 0.1 to 0.2 mm. The first layer spreads slightly under the nozzle, adding up to 0.2 mm to the base of a part, which we trim off where it matters. And the part shrinks as it cools, which is a fraction of a percent in PLA and PETG but noticeably more in ABS and ASA across a long flat face.
None of that is a problem if the model accounts for it. The table below is what we design to, and what we will suggest if you send a part whose mating features are drawn nominal.
| Fit | Modelled gap | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Bonded joint | 0.05–0.10 mm | Two halves of a split part, glued. Enough gap for adhesive, no more. |
| Press fit | 0.10 mm interference | A bearing, magnet or dowel driven in and expected to stay put. |
| Close sliding fit | 0.20 mm | A lid that locates, a drawer that runs, a shaft that turns freely. |
| Free fit | 0.30–0.40 mm | Anything assembled in gloves, outdoors, or after a coat of paint. |
| Clearance hole | Nominal + 0.30 mm | An M4 bolt through a printed bracket wants a 4.3 mm modelled hole. |
If a dimension has to be tighter than this, say which one. We can often print oversize and ream, bore or face the single critical feature after printing, which is cheaper than machining the whole part. If several features need it, the part should be machined and we will tell you so.
Resolution
Layer heights, and what each one is for
Layer height is the main lever on price, because it sets how many passes the nozzle makes. Halving it roughly doubles the print time and does nothing at all for dimensional accuracy in X and Y.
| Layer height | Character | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08 mm | Finest detail, slowest | Jewellery masters, fine texture, small lettering that has to be read |
| 0.12 mm | Fine detail | Visible consumer parts and display models handled by a customer |
| 0.16 mm | Detailed | A compromise on parts that are both seen and used |
| 0.20 mm | Standard: the usual choice | Almost everything: prototypes, jigs, brackets, batch work |
| 0.28 mm | Draft, fastest | Large functional parts and internal fixtures nobody inspects |
0.20 mm is the default and covers most work. We move to 0.28 mm on large functional parts where nobody will look at the surface, and down to 0.12 mm or 0.08 mm only where fine detail genuinely carries the job: a textured face, small lettering, a shallow chamfer that has to read cleanly.
Materials
5 filaments in stock, 4 ordered in
Spool prices are what we pay, and they feed the quote directly. There is no material mark-up hidden in the figure. Anything not on this list can usually be ordered in within two to three working days.
| Material | Spool price | Density | Chosen for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA Basic | £14.00/kg | 1.24 g/cm³ | Fit-check prototypes |
| PLA Matte | £15.00/kg | 1.24 g/cm³ | Parts a customer will actually hold |
| PLA Silk | £19.00/kg | 1.24 g/cm³ | Gifts, keepsakes and awards |
| PETG HF | £16.00/kg | 1.27 g/cm³ | Replacement parts and brackets |
| ABS | £17.00/kg | 1.04 g/cm³ | Parts that sit near an engine or a heater |
| ASA | £19.00/kg | 1.07 g/cm³ | Permanent outdoor fittings |
| TPU 95A | £25.00/kg | 1.21 g/cm³ | Gaskets, seals and bump stops |
| PLA-CF | £30.00/kg | 1.22 g/cm³ | Jigs and fixtures that must not flex |
| PETG-CF | £32.00/kg | 1.30 g/cm³ | Load-bearing brackets |
Files
What to send, and what happens to it
STL and 3MF up to 60 MB price themselves instantly in the browser. Everything else we quote by hand, usually the same working day.
| Format | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| STL | Instant estimate | ASCII and binary. The universal export from every CAD package. |
| 3MF | Instant estimate | Carries units and colour. Preferred if your CAD offers it. |
| STEP / STP | Email, quoted by hand | Solid geometry. Best format if you want us to modify the part. |
| IGES / OBJ | Email, quoted by hand | Converted to a printable mesh before quoting. |
| SLDPRT / F3D / SKP | Email, quoted by hand | Native SolidWorks, Fusion 360 and SketchUp files. |
| PDF or DXF drawing | Email, quoted as design work | A dimensioned drawing is enough for us to model from. |
Confidentiality
The instant estimate opens and measures your file inside your own browser. Nothing is uploaded, nothing reaches a server, and closing the tab leaves no copy anywhere but on your machine. You can price a confidential design without sending it to us at all.
When you do send a file, it is used to make your parts and for nothing else. We do not resell designs, publish them, reuse them or add them to a portfolio. Files are deleted once the order and any reprint window are closed, and sooner if you ask.
You do not need an NDA to get a quote: the confidentiality above applies by default. If your procurement process requires one, send yours over and it will come back signed.
Invoicing and terms
Every job is invoiced. Invoiced on completion, 14 days for account customers. New customers pay on completion before collection or dispatch; once we have worked together, 14-day terms are straightforward to set up.
We are not VAT registered, so the figure quoted is the figure invoiced. There is nothing to add and nothing for you to reclaim. Purchase order numbers are carried onto the invoice if you send one with the order.
Minimum order is £30. Payment is by bank transfer or card. Batch orders over £250 can be split into a deposit and a balance on delivery.
Scheduling
Lead times and realistic batch limits
Lead time runs from the point the design is agreed, not from the point the enquiry lands. If a date is fixed, say so in the first message and we will tell you straight away whether it is achievable.
| Option | Lead time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 5–7 working days | × 1.00 |
| Express | 2–3 working days | × 1.35 |
| Quantity | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 1–9 | Routine. Often the same week, and one part is a perfectly normal order. |
| 10–50 | Nested across a plate and run as one job. This is where the per-unit price drops sharply. |
| 50–200 | Scheduled across several days. Split deliveries are normal if you would rather not hold stock. |
| 200–500 | Possible, and worth a conversation first about whether moulding is the better answer. |
| 500+ | We will point you at injection moulding rather than quote it. |
How many parts fit on one plate depends on their footprint, not their quantity, and that is what really sets a batch lead time. A 40 mm cable clip nests dozens to a plate and 200 of them is a few days of machine time; a 200 mm housing is one per plate and fifty of them is a fortnight. The instant estimate works this out from your actual bounding box.
Honest limits
What we will tell you to take elsewhere
Turning work down costs us one job. Taking work we cannot do properly costs us the customer. These are the jobs we will point somewhere else, and it is worth knowing before you spend time on an enquiry.
| If you need | Why printing is the wrong answer | Better process |
|---|---|---|
| More than about 500 identical units | Tooling amortises below our per-unit price at that volume, and a moulded part is stronger and more consistent. | Injection moulding |
| Tighter than ±0.3 mm, or a true surface finish | FDM lays down 0.42 mm beads. No amount of care makes that hold a reamed bore or a sealing face. | CNC machining |
| Food-contact or medical parts | Layer lines trap bacteria and cannot be reliably cleaned. We cannot certify a printed part as safe for either use. | A certified moulder |
| Certified or safety-critical parts | Nothing we print carries a material certificate, a batch trace or a load rating. Lifting points, load paths above a person and anything a regulator inspects are out. | A certified manufacturer |
| Metal parts, or continuous heat above 90°C | ABS and ASA cope with a hot car or a warm motor housing. They do not cope with an exhaust, a flue or an oven. | Metal fabrication or casting |
We also decline weapons and weapon components, anything designed to defeat a lock or security device, and anything that infringes someone else’s copyright, trademark or registered design. If your job sits near one of these lines, ask: a two-minute answer is better than a week of waiting.
Next step
Send the file, or send the problem
If you have geometry, the estimate takes about a minute and your file never leaves your browser. If you do not, describe the part and you will get a considered answer from the person who would print it.
Instant estimate. We confirm the price once we've sliced your file.