Getting an accurate SLS quote is quick and painless when your file and your requirements are clear from the start. A well prepared model lets us check it for printability, nest the parts efficiently in the build chamber and price the whole job without a lot of back and forth, which ultimately means you get your finished parts in hand sooner.
Here is how to set yourself up for a smooth, fast job when you submit a MJF & SLS printing request through our Perth team, covering the file formats we prefer and the details that genuinely help us give you the best price and lead time.
Get the file format right
For SLS work we work best from a solid, watertight 3D model, with STL and STEP being by far the most common and useful formats. An STL captures the shape ready for printing, while a STEP additionally keeps the editable underlying geometry in case any changes turn out to be needed. Whatever the format, make sure the model is watertight, with no gaps, holes or flipped faces in the mesh.
It is also well worth modelling in real world units and then double checking the overall dimensions before you send the file, which avoids the classic and surprisingly common mistake of a part arriving ten times too large or ten times too small because of a unit mix up. If your part is made of several bodies, exporting them as a single combined solid or telling us how they relate avoids any confusion about what should be printed.
Tell us what matters
A few short words about how the part will actually be used go a long way in helping us recommend the right nylon and the right finish for the job. Let us know the quantity you need, any genuinely critical dimensions, the loads the part will see in service, and whether you want it dyed, smoothed or sealed once it is printed.
If all you have at this stage is a rough sketch or a physical sample part rather than a model, that is absolutely fine. We can help create a proper model for you using our CAD and 3D scanning and photogrammetry services and take it from there. A target delivery date is useful too, since it lets us tell you honestly whether a standard or a faster turnaround is the right fit for your timeline.
Things that change the price
A few simple factors drive the cost of an SLS job, and knowing them helps you make choices that suit your budget. The volume of the part and how tightly a batch nests together both matter, since a denser nest shares the build cost across more parts. Quantity helps for the same reason, and finishing steps such as dyeing, smoothing or sealing add to the base price of a raw part.
If your budget is tight, tell us, because we can often suggest small changes such as hollowing a bulky part, splitting a very large one or relaxing a finish that will bring the price down without hurting how the part performs.
What happens next
Once we have your file and your details in hand, we review the design carefully, suggest any improvements that would help it print better or cost less, and return a clear price along with a realistic lead time. From there it is straight into the build queue and on its way to becoming a finished part.
undefined You can upload your model through our get a quote page, or reach out to the team at contact us if you would rather talk the project through first.
- Send a watertight STL or STEP modelled in real world units.
- Double check overall dimensions to avoid unit mix ups.
- Tell us quantity, critical dimensions, loads and finish.
- Send a sketch or sample if you have no model yet.
- Ask about hollowing or finish changes to suit a tight budget.