The cost of your 3D printed parts depends on factors such as part volume, part complexity, choice of material, which 3D printing technology is used, and if any post-processing is required. For more details on these cost factors, see our article on the cost of 3D printing. To check the cost of your 3D printed part, simply upload a CAD (.STL) file and select your material and 3D printing technology to receive a quote within seconds.
In order to reduce the cost of your 3D prints you need to understand the impact certain factors have on cost. The main cost influencing factors are the material type, individual part volume, printing technology, and post-processing requirements.
Once these have been decided, an easy way to further cut costs is to reduce the amount of material used. This can be done by decreasing the size of your model, hollowing it out, and eliminating the need for support structures.
To learn more, read our full guide on how to reduce the cost of 3D printing.
Your parts are made by experienced 3D printing shops within our network. All facilities are regularly audited to ensure they consistently meet The Protolabs Network Standard. We include a standardized inspection report with every order and offer a First Article Inspection service on orders of 100+ units.
We have partners in our network with the following certifications, available on request: ISO9001 and AS9100.
Follow this link to read more about our quality assurance measures.
You can select the right 3D printing process by examining which materials suit your need and what your use case is.
By material: if you already know which material you would like to use, selecting a 3D printing process is relatively easy, as many materials are technology specific.
By use case: once you know whether you need a functional or visual part, choosing a process is easy.
For more help, read our guide to selecting the right 3D printing process. Find out more about Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Stereolithography (SLA).
Our knowledge base is full of in-depth design guidelines, explanations on process and surface finishes, and information on how to create and use CAD files. Our 3D printing content has been written by an expert team of engineers and technicians over the years.
See our complete engineering guide to 3D printing for a full breakdown of the different 3D printing technologies and materials. If you want even more 3D printing, then check out our acclaimed 3D Printing Handbook.
For tips on designing for production, take a look at our key design considerations for 3D printing. Designing models for 3D printing is generally done with CAD software such as Solidworks and Fusion 360, or 3D modeling software such as Blender, Maya or 3Ds Max. To learn more see our article on 3D modeling CAD software.
