FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions, and General Guidelines:
Can you print me an object from Thingiverse?
Generally, no. I will typically only print designs which either you have created and need printed, or designs which I generate and print. Copyright regarding Thingiverse files can be a bit of a grey area, and there are plenty of websites in which you can send them files from Thingiverse and they will print and ship them to you for a fairly reasonable price.
How strong are the plastic parts? Can they stand up to harsh environments?
I am not an engineer, and if you require a part to stand up to a very harsh environment in which peoples safety may be at stake, I highly advise you bring your idea to a professional engineer to have them look over your design, at which point I can print it. That being said, there are a variety of VERY high strength and durable plastics on the market today. PLA, which is one of the most readily available filaments, has incredibly high breaking strength and can be suited for a variety of purposes where strength is necessary. Nylon, which is a more expensive and harder to print material, is also a wonderful choice for harsh environments where durability is an essential design consideration. In general, most of the plastics will degrade in sunlight, and lose some of their strength/ color over time however.
Can you print me an object which will come in contact with food?
The general consensus in the 3D printing community is that there is generally not a safe way to create food safe 3D prints for long term use. Parts may be finished with a food safe epoxy to temporarily create an outer barrier which is food safe, but I will generally not print items related to food use.
Why are the prices so high?
Unfortunately, due to media misrepresentation, it is a very common belief that 3D printers take an idea and turn it into a part. Unfortunately, like many things, the reality is not like that. In order to create a Useful 3d print, the part must first go through a multistage design process in which the necessary attributes and considerations are identified. The part is then constructed using a parametric modeling software, such as Fusion 360, or a sculpting software, such as Blender, in order to generate a 3D model that can be printed. At this point, the part can be printed, provided your 3D printer is fully calibrated, which is another arduous process in itself. After the print is finished (A process which will typically take from 4 hours, to over a day, depending on the size and strength requirements of the model) we can evaluate how well the part fills the specific needs in which it was designed and iterate from there. I believe my prices are priced very fairly, especially if you compare my prices to other shops. I am running a one man operation, and I am able to keep overhead low and maintain a quick turnaround time which is also hard to do for larger companies. If a price seems too high, feel free to contact me regarding your ideas and I will see if we can work something out. I am also open to trades and barters in exchange for my services.
Feel Free to Contact me regarding any other questions!
(209) 580-5045