Insta3DP FAQ

How to make my parts?

  1. Upload CAD drawings to the canvas, supported format: stl,obj,stp,step,igs,iges,zip,png,jpg,jpeg,gif,bmp,dxf
  2. Rescale the model if neccesary, default file unit is mm, click 鈥榠nch鈥 to switch unit.
  3. Select material from the dropdown (search available), if the material is not listed, please submit quote request at manual review.
  4. Check instant price which indicates the estimated unit cost of manufacturing. Please note: The price might NOT be the final offer, there might be updates after technical review.
  5. Place order with secure online payment methods like PayPal and credit card.
  6. View order detail in your dashboard and wait for our technical review & manufacturablity check.
  7. We start producing if everything is checked and confirmed, if the drawing needs modification or extra payment, we will notify you via email.
  8. We ship the package and you wait for the delivery.
  9. Give us some feedback and prepare for the next project 馃檪

About minimum order value & quantity?

There’s no MOQ for 3D printing, only minimum order value. Apart from material volume cost, there are serveral ingredients in order pricing:

  • Per Material Minimum Order Value
    The minimum order amount is $30 per material(SD and HD resolution are considered as same material) excluding shipping cost. If total manufacturing cost is less than $30, we will charge $30 as subtotal, so it鈥檚 more economic to order multiple copies if your part is cheaper than $30.
  • Per Part Minimum Order Value
    Since each parts has to be post processed manually after printing, there’ll be a minimum part cost. Normally it鈥檚 $1.2 per part, some materials might have higher minimum part unit cost.

Supported file format?

  • 3D Model: stl,obj,stp,step,igs,iges
  • 2D Image: png,jpg,jpeg,gif,bmp (It will guide you to generate a lithophane based on the image)
  • Zip file(.zip) with multiple 3D models or colorful OBJ file(obj+mtl+jpg)

Uploading colorful 3D model?

Yes! We support colorful OBJ 3D model upload:

You must upload .obj+ .mtl+.png/bmp/jpg in one compressed .zip folder, and don’t upload more than one OBJ file at a time, the system will fail to recognize multiple colorful OBJ files.

Multiple models in one upload?

Yes, you can compress multiple parts(STL format only) in one ZIP folder.

However we don’t recommend it. The parts will be automatically re-packed in system, since the shipping cost is calculated based on bounding box of the packed models, this might increase the estimated shipping cost. Also packed models take longer time to process, the minimum part cost will not be avoided

Price changes after added to cart?

This issue often happens on broken 3D model. If there are mesh errors in your 3D model, after you rescale the model, the calculated volume might be different than actual volume.

When this happens, please contact us for a manual review or try to repair the 3D model using 3D model repairing tools like NetFabb, FreeCAD, Makeprintable to ensure there’s no mesh errors in 3D model.

Can't find some materials?

Insta3DP aims at minimize the manual effort in 3D printing quotation, however calculating the material/support/running hours of certain 3D printing process like PolyJet and DMLS is a big challenge. We will keep improving the algorithms and add more materials in the list.

Can’t find the material in Insta3DP? Try the manual review quoting system that includes our entire expertise of manufacturing capabilities!

Check my order status?

For Manual Review orders, you can see the order list here.

For Insta3DP orders, you can see the order detail here.

If you still have question, click to chat with us or open support ticket.

Order is being reviewed?

NOTICE: Order status and total amount might update after technical review! We’ll send you the updates via email. Possible Changes of Insta3DP Order:

  1. Require modification
    Through our technical review, your 3D model has design errors that makes the part not manufacturable, we might need you to modify it or cancel the order.
  2. Extra manufacturing cost
    Might occur due to high complexity or high risk of producing/post processing your parts.
  3. Extra shipping cost
    Might occur due to over-weight/over-size/extended area surcharge or unpredictable special occasion.
  4. Order cancellation
    Your order might be rejected if we decide your requirement impossible to meet, or the products might violate any laws/regulations.