Getting an accurate MJF quote quickly comes down to sending the right information up front rather than discovering gaps later in a string of emails. The more we know about your part and how it will be used, the better we can advise on material, finish and cost, and the fewer rounds of back and forth it takes to pin everything down and get you printing.
Everything described below feeds straight into a tidy, accurate quote through our MJF & SLS printing service. A few minutes spent gathering it before you get in touch usually saves a good deal of time for everyone involved and gets your parts onto a build sooner.
The files we need
For printing, a 3D model is essential, since MJF works directly from your geometry rather than from a flat drawing. STEP files are ideal because they carry accurate, watertight geometry that imports cleanly, while STL files are perfectly fine for the great majority of jobs too, provided they are exported at a sensible resolution. If you only have a sketch or a physical part in hand, that is not a dead end by any means.
If you do not have a CAD file at all, our CAD team can model the part for you from a sketch, drawing or sample part. Where you have an existing object to copy or modify, our 3D scanning and photogrammetry service can capture it accurately to give us a solid, dimensioned starting point to work from.
Details that shape the quote
Beyond the model itself, a few key details make a real difference to the accuracy of the quote and the advice we can give. Tell us the quantity you need, since MJF cost depends so heavily on batching, and let us know your material grade if you have a preference between standard and glass-filled nylon for the job.
It also helps to mention any critical dimensions, threaded features or sealing requirements early on, and to tell us how and where the part will be used in service. That context lets us flag anything worth changing before it prints rather than afterwards, when a fix is slower and more expensive to make.
A quick checklist
Send these few things along together and your quote will come back fast and accurate, with sensible advice attached rather than a list of questions. Having them ready in one go avoids the most common delays we see on new enquiries.
- A 3D model, ideally in STEP or STL format.
- The quantity you need now and likely later.
- Required finish, such as raw, blasted or dyed.
- Any critical tolerances or sealing requirements.
What happens after you send it
Once your files and details arrive, we review the geometry for anything that might affect printing, such as very thin walls, trapped voids without escape holes or features too fine to resolve cleanly. If we spot something, we will suggest a quick fix or handle it for you rather than printing a part we already know could be improved.
We then confirm the material, the finish and the best way to batch the work for value, and come back with pricing and a realistic lead time. If the design is still evolving, a prototype development round first lets you test one part in your hand before committing to the full quantity. We will also confirm whether your chosen finish suits the part and flag anything, such as a sealing or threaded insert requirement, that is far easier to plan for now than to add once the parts have already been printed.
Send it through
Once you have your files and details together, start a quote and we will respond with pricing, a realistic lead time and any advice we think will help your part succeed. If you are unsure about anything at all, just contact us and we will happily guide you through the whole process from start to finish.