Order 3D printing online — from file to finished part in 2–4 working days

Table of contents:
The process step by step · File format and requirements · Material choice · Price and payment · Delivery · FAQ

Ordering 3D printing online is easier than most people think. You don't need a deep understanding of 3D printing or your own 3D printer — you send us your file, and we handle the rest. In this guide, we walk through the process from first idea to finished part, so you know exactly what to expect when ordering from Maker Factory.

The process step by step

At Maker Factory, the ordering process is designed to be simple — whether you're a private hobbyist or a buyer at a production company:

1. Upload your 3D file
   Go to our request page and upload your file. We accept STL, STEP, OBJ, 3MF, and most other common 3D formats. Don't have a file yet? See the section below.
2. We review your file
   We check that the file is printable — closed mesh, correct wall thickness, no self-intersections. We fix typical errors at no extra cost and note this in the quote.
3. You receive a quote within 24 hours
   The quote includes: material (our recommendation plus alternatives), price excl. VAT, estimated lead time, and any notes on the design.
4. Approve and pay
   You approve the quote and pay. Private customers use card or MobilePay. Business customers can get an invoice with net 8 days payment.
5. Production and delivery
   We start production the same day payment is received. You get a tracking number once the parcel ships. PostNord delivers across Denmark.

File format and requirements — what should you send?

You don't need to be a CAD expert to order from us. Here's what we work with:

Don't have a 3D file?

No problem. Send us a technical drawing, a photo of the part you want to replicate, or describe what you need — we'll model the file for you and give a combined quote for design + print. See our 3D design service →

File requirements

A good 3D file for printing is: watertight (no holes in the surface), correctly scaled (specify the unit: mm or inch), and free of self-intersections. If your file doesn't meet these requirements, we'll typically fix it and note the corrections in the quote.

Material choice — what should you pick?

The short answer: you don't need to choose in advance. We recommend a material based on your description of the intended use. But here's a quick overview of the most common ones:

Read our full material guide → or FDM vs. SLA guide → for a deeper comparison.

Price and payment

Price is calculated based on material usage (grams) and print time (hours). There's no fixed setup fee and no minimum order. Price examples (excl. VAT):

• Small PLA prototype (50 g, 2 hours print time): approx. DKK 150–200
• PETG machine part (150 g, 5 hours print time): approx. DKK 350–550
• Industrial part in PA6-CF (200 g): approx. DKK 700–1,100
• Detailed SLA part (20 g resin): approx. DKK 200–350

See our detailed pricing breakdown: What does 3D printing cost? →

Delivery

We ship with PostNord across Denmark. Delivery time to most addresses: 1 business day from dispatch. We send a tracking number once the parcel is collected. For shipments with special requirements (temperature, fragility), we pack with extra care — just note in your request that the part is fragile.

What happens after you send your request

Many customers aren't sure what happens between sending an STL file and receiving their part. Here's exactly how it works at Maker Factory: you send the file (or a description) via our request form. We review your file and send a quote within 24 hours — typically within 2–4 hours during business hours. The quote includes price, material recommendation, and estimated lead time.

If you accept the quote, you confirm by email and pay in advance (private customers) or on net 8 days (businesses). We place your order in the production queue and typically start printing the same day or the next morning. Production time is 1–3 business days depending on complexity and size. Delivery via PostNord parcel adds 1–2 business days.

Total delivery time from confirmed order to receiving your parcel: typically 3–5 business days. For urgent orders, we can prioritize — note in your request that it's time-sensitive, and we'll assess whether it's possible within your timeframe.

What if your file has issues? We screen every STL file for printability before sending a quote. If we find a problem — a hole, walls that are too thin, geometry requiring unrealistic amounts of support — we mention it in the quote and suggest a solution. You don't need to be a CAD expert to order from us.

What if you don't have an STL file? No problem. Send us a photo, a drawing, a description, or a rough sketch with dimensions. We design and print from DKK 399 for simple parts. More complex designs are quoted individually. Design is always included in the quote — no hidden design fees added later.

We also offer revisions: if you want to adjust a printed part, send us feedback and we'll adjust the design and print a new version. Most customers use 1–2 revisions before they're satisfied. All revisions are quoted at a fixed price before we print.

FAQ — ordering 3D printing online

What's the smallest order I can place?

There's no minimum order — you can order a single part. We print everything from single prototypes to batches of 500+ units.

Can I see a sample before ordering a batch?

Yes — we always recommend ordering 1–2 units for approval before batch production. The unit price is higher for small quantities, but it's a good investment before ordering 100 units.

What happens if my file can't be printed?

We'll contact you with a description of the issue and a suggested solution. We fix typical errors at no extra cost, but significant design changes require a new file from you.

Can you keep my files confidential?

Yes — we treat all files and project details as confidential. Businesses that require a formal NDA can contact us to sign a confidentiality agreement before sending files.

What are your business hours?

We respond to requests every business day. Production runs 5 days a week. Urgent inquiries can be sent by email — we always try to respond the same day.

Do you offer ongoing agreements for businesses?

Yes — we set up framework agreements with businesses that have recurring needs. This gives fixed pricing, prioritized production, and EAN invoicing. Contact us to discuss your needs.

A question we often get: what happens if the printed part isn't what you expected? We have a simple policy: if a part was printed incorrectly (we made a mistake), we reprint it for free. If the design doesn't meet your needs because the request wasn't specific enough, we offer a revision at a reduced price. We always require the customer to confirm the design (as a drawing or STL preview) before we print, to minimize misunderstandings.

What about shipping? We primarily use PostNord parcel — delivery to a parcel shop or home address within 1–3 business days after dispatch. For business customers with fixed delivery addresses, we can arrange weekly or daily delivery. Express delivery is available for a surcharge — just ask in your request.