FAQ – Technical Questions & Answers

Send your inquiry via the contact form – with a part description, desired material and quantity. Ideally, attach CAD data (STL, STEP, STP). Alternatively: upload an STL or STEP directly into the online calculator and get an indicative price instantly. Within 24 hours you'll receive a qualified response with a feasibility analysis, material recommendation and a binding price quote. Manufacturing begins after order confirmation.

Accepted formats: STL, STEP (.stp / .step), 3MF, OBJ and IGES. For technical parts with dimensional requirements, we recommend STEP: the format transfers geometry and dimensioning information without loss. Maximum 50 MB per file in the online calculator. Alternatively, dimensional drawings can be submitted as a PDF with specific tolerance callouts.

Standard lead time is 5–7 business days after order confirmation. Express manufacturing in 2–3 business days is available on request and confirmed subject to machine capacity availability. For very simple geometries, 24–48-hour manufacturing is possible in individual cases. The binding lead time is stated in the quote.

Yes. Express manufacturing in 2–3 business days is available as a standard option on request. For simpler geometries without support removal, 24–48-hour manufacturing is possible in exceptional cases – depending on current capacity and part complexity. For urgent projects, please email directly: info@3dfabrikant.com.

3D Fabrikant delivers throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland via DHL or DPD. For time-critical projects in the Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg and Heilbronn areas, courier delivery can also be coordinated directly.

From one unit. FFF printing has no minimum lot size – a single prototype is just as feasible as a small batch of 100 parts. There are no tooling costs. Since setup only occurs once per order, the unit price drops significantly with quantity – often down to a fraction of the single-unit price for larger series. The exact unit price for your part and any desired quantity is shown instantly in the online calculator. Framework agreements for recurring orders are available on request.

The portfolio includes 34 materials: standard materials (PLA, PETG), technical polymers (ASA UV-stable, ABS, PA/nylon PA12, PC, TPU 85A–98A), high-performance composites (PA-CF, PETG-CF, PA-GF, PC-CF, PET-CF, PAHT-CF, PPA-CF), glass-fiber-reinforced materials (Bambu ABS-GF, Bambu PA6-GF, PP-GF, PPA-GF, PET-GF), tribological materials (iglidur i150, i180 from igus) and specialty materials (PVB). A full overview with technical specifications is available at /en/materialien.

Most filaments come with manufacturer certificates: Bambu Lab materials (ABS, ASA, PC, PA-CF, PETG-CF and others) have RoHS and REACH conformity declarations. igus iglidur filaments are tested per ISO 6945 (tribology). BASF Ultrafuse materials are supplied with an ISO 527 TDS. For UL94 flame protection and FDA compliance (food contact), we provide manufacturer documentation on a project-specific basis. An overview by material is available on the respective datasheet pages at /en/materialien.

ESD-safe filaments (specific resistance 10⁶–10⁹ Ω, per IEC 61340-5-1) can be sourced on a project-specific basis. Suitable materials include ESD-PETG or ESD-PA. For qualification, we recommend a technical pre-discussion: part geometry, discharge path and surface resistance are assessed together. Request via the contact form.

Carbon-fiber filaments (PA-CF, PC-CF, PETG-CF, PET-CF, PAHT-CF, PPA-CF) require a hardened steel nozzle (at least 0.4 mm) without exception. Standard brass or copper nozzles wear out within hours due to the abrasive short CF fibers. At 3D Fabrikant, all CF materials are processed exclusively with calibrated steel nozzles. The short fibers significantly increase stiffness, but not impact resistance (elongation at break decreases).

Single parts up to 400 × 400 × 500 mm are in the standard program. For larger parts, we offer segmented manufacturing with subsequent bonding (structural adhesive, e.g. Loctite EA 9466) or screwing. The optimal joint location is engineered to preserve strength and appearance.

Typical dimensional tolerance: ±0.2 mm. With careful parameter selection and material-specific calibration, ±0.1 mm is achievable on non-critical surfaces. Fit surfaces (e.g. bearing seats, shaft mounts H7/h6) are designed with a constructive allowance and mechanically reamed afterward or fitted with heat-set threaded inserts. Surface roughness as-printed: Ra 10–25 µm (Rz 50–125 µm). Dimensional checks with a digital caliper (0.01 mm resolution) are a standard part of every order.

FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) melts thermoplastic filament and deposits it layer by layer – ideal for functional industrial parts from technical polymers (PA, ASA, PC, PETG-CF) with a large build volume and reproducible mechanical properties. SLA (stereolithography) uses UV-curing resins for very fine surfaces, but the parts are often brittle and UV-sensitive. SLS (selective laser sintering) sinters polymer powder and enables complex geometries without support structure, but is significantly more cost-intensive and uneconomical for small quantities. For mechanically loaded industrial parts, FFF with technical high-performance filaments is the most economical choice.

FFF parts are anisotropic: mechanical properties – especially tensile strength and impact resistance – are direction-dependent. In the print direction (Z-axis, perpendicular to the layers), strength is approximately 20–40% lower than in the XY plane. As a mechanical engineering technician (Bachelor Professional), part loading is already considered during layer-orientation planning – the main load direction is always aligned with the stronger XY plane. For critical parts, we recommend specifying load cases and desired print orientation in the inquiry.

Uploaded CAD files (STL, STEP) are used exclusively for calculating and manufacturing the respective order. Transmission is encrypted (HTTPS/TLS). Files aren't shared with third parties, aren't used for other purposes, and aren't stored permanently on publicly accessible servers after the order is completed. The slicing calculation runs on a local server (Hyper-V VM) in Stuttgart – your data doesn't leave our network.

Yes. On request, we sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) – either as a one-off agreement for specific projects or as a framework NDA for recurring orders. Please mention your NDA requirement at first contact so it can be formalized before file upload.

Order data (contact information, invoicing details) is stored per legal retention requirements (§ 257 HGB: 6–10 years). STL and STEP files aren't retained permanently after the order is completed. For follow-up projects or reorders, we recommend archiving your own files. Detailed information: privacy policy (German only) at /datenschutz.

For small-batch projects, print parameters (temperature, layer thickness, infill, flow rate) are documented and stored for follow-up orders. Every part undergoes visual inspection (layer defects, stringing, surface) and a dimensional check with a digital caliper (0.01 mm resolution) at defined test points. Filament moisture is controlled through vacuum storage and material-specific drying before every print – especially relevant for PA, PC, PETG.

Yes – with the right material. ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) is the preferred material for outdoor applications: inherently UV-stabilized, weather-resistant and dimensionally stable up to approx. 95 °C (HDT). Standard PLA and PETG aren't suitable for permanent outdoor use – PLA already softens at approx. 60 °C, and both degrade under UV radiation. For extreme conditions (saltwater, chemical exposure), PP-GF or ASA-CF are recommended.

FFF parts are suitable for many technical applications in mechanical engineering: fixtures, brackets, housings, grippers, tribological parts. For safety-relevant components (medical technology, aerospace, personal protective equipment, pressure vessels per PED), explicit technical approval is required, which must be agreed on a project-specific, documented basis. Contact us for a feasibility assessment.

Design consulting is included in the standard service at no extra charge. As a state-certified mechanical engineering technician (Bachelor Professional, IHK), every inquiry is assessed from an engineering standpoint: wall-thickness analysis, optimal layer orientation for the main load direction, tolerance-chain assessment for fits, identification of undercuts and optimization suggestions for additive-manufacturing-oriented design (Design for Additive Manufacturing, DfAM). Specific CAD revisions on request.

The price consists of: material consumption (volume × density × material price), print time (machine-specific hourly rates), support-structure effort (removal, post-processing), engineering review effort, and packaging and shipping. All prices are net prices (plus 19% VAT). You'll receive a binding quote within 24 hours of your inquiry – free of charge and without obligation. For standard parts, an indicative price is available instantly via the online calculator.

Yes – with no complicated discount tiers. Since setup only occurs once per order, the unit price automatically drops with quantity: 10 identical parts cost significantly less per unit than a single unit, and noticeably less again at 50 or 100 units. The exact unit price for your part and any desired quantity is calculated instantly by the online calculator on upload. For recurring orders of the same parts, framework agreements with agreed unit prices and call-off quantities are available.

For individually manufactured 3D printed parts, there is no right of withdrawal under German law (§ 312g Abs. 2 Nr. 1 BGB), since all parts are manufactured based on your specific CAD data. This applies equally to private and business customers. Warranty claims per § 437 BGB remain unaffected – demonstrable manufacturing defects are remade free of charge as a goodwill gesture. Detailed information: right-of-withdrawal notice and terms & conditions (German only).

Automated platforms calculate algorithmically without engineering review: anisotropy, layer orientation and material-specific parameter adjustment aren't considered. 3D Fabrikant reviews every inquiry manually through a state-certified mechanical engineering technician – including a feasibility analysis, print-orientation recommendation and material consulting at no extra charge. In addition: local manufacturing in Stuttgart (no subcontractor network), direct communication with no ticket system, and steel nozzles as standard for CF materials.

Focus areas: custom machinery and automation technology (sensor brackets, cable routing, grippers, fixtures), product development and prototyping (iterative development loops, functional samples), medical and orthopedic technology (aids, splints, models – not Class IIa/IIb without approval), automotive and e-mobility (brackets, covers, tribological components), research and universities (test setups, demonstrators).