Custom 3D printing service in the EU: from model to quote

Ordering 3D printing often meant sending an e-mail with an attachment, waiting for a quote and a long exchange of messages before it was even clear how much the part would cost. The configurator at selektronik.si shortens this process: you upload the model, see it in the browser, choose the material and immediately see a price estimate per part. You then send an inquiry, we review the model and usually send you a quote within a few hours. In this article we describe the whole process, from file to parcel, and answer the most common questions.

Who makes your part

Selektronik is a Slovenian company for electronics development, PCB assembly and 3D design. For custom 3D printing we work with a manufacturing partner – a large specialised manufacturer with industrial printers for SLA, MJF, SLS, FDM and SLM. This means repeatable industrial quality and a wide choice of materials that no single desktop printer could offer. The inquiry, communication, invoice and support, however, all go through one company based in the EU.

The process step by step

1. Upload one or more models

In the 3D printing configurator, drag the files into the upload area or select them from your computer. We accept STL, STEP, OBJ, 3MF and IGES. You can upload several models at once, for example the base and lid of an enclosure and a bracket; each model is treated as a separate item with its own settings.

Before uploading, check that the units are millimetres and that the model is watertight. The details are in the guide How to prepare an STL or STEP file.

2. Review the 3D preview

Every uploaded model is shown in a 3D preview in the browser. You can rotate and zoom it and check the outer dimensions of the model (length, width, height) and its volume. This step is mainly meant to catch wrong units (a model that is 25 times too large or 1000 times too small) and missing geometry.

3. Choose the technology and material

For each model you choose:

Consider the purpose of the part when choosing; a detailed comparison is in the article SLA, MJF, SLS, FDM or SLM. Because the price estimate updates with every change, you can try several combinations with no obligation.

4. Choose the colour and quantity

Depending on the material, you choose the colour and quantity. Special requests – for example extra finishing, a critical dimension or the print orientation – go into the note for the model.

5. Check the price estimate

The price estimate is calculated immediately from the geometry of the model and the selected settings. It is shown as a net price per part, excluding VAT and delivery. If you have several models, you see the price for each one separately.

6. Send an inquiry

Enter your name and e-mail address and, if you like, your phone number, company, desired deadline and additional services. No registration is needed, and the inquiry does not commit you to anything. After sending it you receive a confirmation by e-mail.

7. Technical review and quote

We review the model: we check the wall thickness, watertightness and thin features, and whether the chosen technology suits the geometry. If we notice a problem that would affect quality, we suggest a concrete solution. We then send you a quote with the final price, delivery and lead time, usually within a few hours. The order is placed when you confirm the quote, and nothing is printed until everything is clear.

8. Production and quality control

The parts are printed, cleaned, finished where needed and inspected. When they arrive, we inspect them ourselves as well: dimensions, surface, completeness and conformity with the order specification. Only then do we send them on.

9. Delivery and invoice

You receive the parcel at your address in the EU together with an invoice from an EU company containing all the details you need for your bookkeeping. Business customers in another EU country with a valid VAT ID receive an invoice without VAT (intra-Community supply); private customers receive an invoice with VAT.

Lead times

The total time from confirming the quote to delivery depends on the technology, the finishing and the quantity:

Additional finishing (dyeing, polishing, machining) extends the lead time by a few days; for delivery outside Slovenia allow one to three extra days. If you have a fixed deadline, such as a trade fair or a presentation, write it in the inquiry and we will tell you whether it is feasible.

What if the model has errors

The most common cases and their solutions:

• The preview shows the wrong dimensions. It is almost always the units. Set the model to millimetres in your CAD program, export it again and upload it.
• The model is not watertight. Open it in a program such as Meshmixer or PrusaSlicer, use the automatic repair and export it again. If that does not work, write to us; we can take care of minor fixes.
• The walls are too thin for the chosen technology. During the technical review we let you know and suggest either thickening the walls or changing the technology (for example from FDM to MJF).
• The model is too large for the technology. We suggest splitting it into several parts or a different technology with a larger build volume.
• An assembly was uploaded as a single file. Export the parts that must be separate as separate files and upload them as several models.
• You have no model, only a sketch or an existing part. As part of our 3D design service we create the model for you and then prepare a quote for printing.

If, after the technical review, the model is not suitable for production and cannot be fixed, we tell you before preparing a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a company to order? No, private customers can order too. Companies receive an invoice made out to the company.

Can I order just one part? Yes. FDM and SLA are best suited to single parts; for parts you will need again, MJF is the better choice.

Can you see my models? We treat models confidentially and use them solely to manufacture your order. On request we sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Can I order an enclosure together with the board? Yes. Selektronik makes the board, assembles it and produces the enclosure, so you receive the complete device.

What if a part does not match the order? If a printed part does not match the order specification (dimensions outside the tolerances of the technology, the wrong material, damage), we remake it free of charge.

Need help?

The quickest way is simply to upload your model to the 3D printing configurator: the preview and the price estimate are free and without obligation. If you do not have a model yet, or need an enclosure adapted to your board, we create it as part of our 3D enclosure design service, so you can send the printing inquiry the very same day.