On-demand 3D printing: from idea to print in five steps
On-demand printing means nothing sits in stock and nothing is produced until you ask for it. You supply a file, a link or a description, and we print to order exactly the number you need. You receive a quote within 48 hours, pay securely online and have your print within 2 to 4 working days, or pick it up for free in The Hague.
Curious what other people have printed? Browse the examples of personalised 3D prints. Already know what you need? Then you can request an on-demand 3D print straight away.
What on-demand printing means
You do not need a printer, filament or software. We print per piece, from a single copy to a small series, and you only decide once the quote is in. Below you first get the short answer, then step by step what happens.
On-demand printing in short
| What you supply | An STL, OBJ, 3MF or ZIP file up to 50 MB, a link to a model on a 3D model site, or simply a description with a photo or sketch. What is useful to send along for each route is on having a model printed. If you have nothing at all and a model has to be made first, see having a 3D model made. |
|---|---|
| What we do with it | We run your model through our slicer (Bambu Studio), calculate print time, material use and support material, and send you a quote based on that. |
| How long it takes | Quote within 48 hours, then valid for 14 days. After your payment the print is ready within 2 to 4 working days. With rush (surcharge 25%) you move to the front of the schedule. |
| What you get back | Your print in PETG with 20 percent infill, support material neatly removed and checked for layer adhesion, dimensions and finish. |
| What it costs | € 0.19 per gram of PETG, with a minimum of € 8.00 including VAT. Shipping via PostNL costs € 4.50 or € 6.95; pick-up in The Hague is free. |
| How big it can be | 350 x 320 x 325 mm per part. If your model is bigger, we print it in sections and join those together. |
What you supply: a file, a link or your description
Choose how you want to start: upload your own STL, OBJ, 3MF or ZIP file (max. 50 MB), paste a link from a 3D model site, or simply describe your idea, optionally with a photo or sketch. If you upload an STL or 3MF, we instantly calculate the volume of your model and you see a price estimate right away. After sending, you receive a personal tracking link by e-mail so you can follow every step live. Filling it in takes two minutes at most and commits you to nothing: you only decide after the quote.
Quote within 48 hours
We pick up your request the same or the next working day. Your model goes through our slicer (Bambu Studio), where we calculate print time, material use and any support material precisely. Based on that, you receive a clear quote in your inbox within 48 hours: unit price, any volume discount, shipping costs and delivery time, everything specified, nothing hidden. The quote stays valid for 14 days, so you have plenty of time to decide. Curious how our price is built up? Check out the pricing page with calculator.
Pay securely with iDEAL
Agreed with the quote? Via the link in your e-mail you confirm with one click and pay online right away via iDEAL. Only after we receive your payment do we schedule your print, so you never pay for anything you have not explicitly approved. Want to change something first, for example a different colour, a higher quality or an extra copy? Just reply to the quote; we adjust it free of charge and send a new version.
Production on the Bambu Lab H2D, with quality control
Your print runs on our Bambu Lab H2D machines: fast, extremely accurate and with a generous print volume of up to 350×320 mm. We print in strong PETG with a standard 20% infill, the best balance between strength, finish and price. During and after printing we check layer adhesion, dimensions and finish. We remove support material neatly and touch up the surface where needed. Only prints that pass our final inspection leave the door, and if something does go wrong on our end, we reprint it for free.
Pick-up in The Hague or delivered via PostNL
Within 2 to 4 working days after payment your print is ready. You choose how you receive it: pick it up for free at our location in The Hague (you receive the exact address and pick-up times with the quote) or home delivery via PostNL for €4 to €6, depending on size and weight. As soon as your parcel is on its way, the track & trace code appears automatically on your personal tracking page and you receive an e-mail. That way you always know exactly where your print is, from print bed to letterbox.
What you can have printed, and what you cannot
Because we produce per piece, almost any model fits. There are hard limits though: the size of the printer, the material and what a file can handle. Both are listed below, so you know where you stand upfront and not only once the quote arrives.
This works
- Your own design as a file: STL, OBJ, 3MF or ZIP, up to 50 MB per file
- A model you found on a 3D model site, supplied as a link
- Just a description, optionally with a reference photo (PNG, JPG or WEBP)
- Single parts, holders, housings, figures and replacement pieces
- 1 to 999 pieces per request, with volume discount from 5 and from 10 pieces
- 350 x 320 x 325 mm per part; if your model is bigger, we print it in sections
- Three quality levels: Standard (0.20 mm), High detail (0.12 mm), Extra strong (more walls/infill)
- Infill of 15, 20, 40, 60 or 100 percent, 20 percent by default
- Ten colours of PETG, from matte black to transparent
This does not work, or only after checking
- A material other than PETG. That is the only material we print.
- Walls thinner than roughly 0.8 mm and separate details at that scale; they do not come out cleanly.
- Models that are not closed. The volume then comes out at zero and there is nothing to calculate.
- Files above 50 MB or with more than three million triangles. Those do not get through the form. Reduce the model or send us a link to the file and we will take a look.
- Delivery outside the Netherlands. We only ship within the Netherlands; pick-up in The Hague is always possible.
What we check before we print
A failed print costs you time and us material. That is why we check every model thoroughly before the printer starts, and warn you in advance if something can be improved. Unsure about the printability of your own design? Feel free to ask us for a free check.
Slicer check in Bambu Studio
Every model goes through the slicer first. There we immediately see whether the model is closed, whether it fits within the print volume, how long the print takes and how much material is needed, the honest basis of your quote.
Wall thickness & details
Walls that are too thin or tiny details do not come out well on a printer. We check the minimum wall thickness (guideline ±0.8 mm) and the feasibility of fine details, and let you know before we print, not afterwards.
Supports & orientation
Overhanging parts temporarily need support material. We determine the smartest print orientation: as few supports as possible, maximum strength in the right direction and the finest visible surface without attachment marks.
Questions that come up first
These are the questions we get most often from people who have never had anything printed before. They are written out here, so you do not have to email us first to find out whether this is going to work.
What do I need to supply, and in which format?
A model file in STL, OBJ, 3MF or ZIP, up to 50 MB per file. If it is an STL or 3MF, we calculate the volume straight away and you see your price estimate right there in the form. OBJ and ZIP can simply be sent along; we quote those by hand after the slicer check. Want to calculate without submitting a request? Use the 3D printing calculator.
A reference photo in PNG, JPG or WEBP can always be added, even if you already have a file. Do you have a different format, for example a drawing from a CAD program? Put it in a ZIP and you can simply send it along; otherwise message us and we will see what is possible.
What happens if my file is not right?
Then you hear about it before the printer starts, not afterwards. Every model goes through the slicer first. If we see that the model is not closed, that walls are too thin, that the scale is off or that it does not fit within 350 x 320 x 325 mm, we report it with a suggestion: scale the model, print it in sections or thicken the walls. You decide, because at that point nothing has been paid yet.
Unsure about printability beforehand? Send us the file and ask for a check, we do not charge for that. If you supply your own design and the print fails because of a fault in that design, that falls outside our responsibility. If something goes wrong in our printing process, we reprint it free of charge.
Can I order without a file at all?
Yes, and that happens more often than you would think. Choose the description option in the form and tell us what you need, with a photo or sketch: what it is for, roughly how big it has to be and what it has to fit. Found a model on a 3D model site? Then a link is enough; we download it and check whether it is printable.
Not sure which way to go yet? Have a look at the examples of personalised 3D prints first, or read how to have an existing model printed. Either way this is print on demand: nothing is made until you ask for it.
What does it cost roughly, and how fast do I have it?
We charge € 0.19 per gram of PETG, with a minimum of € 8.00 per order, including 21 percent VAT. If you do not have a file yet, these ranges give an idea of the order of magnitude. The full price breakdown with calculator is on the pricing page.
| Size | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Small (keychain, clip, hook) | € 8 to € 15 |
| Medium (figure, holder, housing) | € 15 to € 30 |
| Large (helmet, cosplay prop, vase) | Custom quote |
The lead time is separate from the price. Your quote arrives within 48 hours and stays valid for 14 days, so you do not have to decide right away. From the moment you pay, your print is ready within 2 to 4 working days. Shipping via PostNL costs € 4.50 or € 6.95; pick-up in The Hague is free.
Can this be done for a business, with an invoice?
Yes. Choose the business option in the request form and fill in your company name; your Chamber of Commerce number can be added but is not required. Your quote is then issued in your company name, and after payment you receive an invoice with a VAT breakdown. From 5 pieces the volume discount applies, from 10 pieces it goes up.
What we make for businesses, from prototypes to replacement parts and small series, is described on 3D printing for businesses.
How do I know where my print is?
Right after you submit, you get a personal tracking link by email. It shows the status: request received, quote ready, paid, in production and shipped. As soon as the parcel is on its way, the track & trace code appears there automatically. Want to change something along the way? Just reply to the quote; changes cost nothing as long as the printer has not started.
All clear? Then you can now request a custom print with a file, a link or a description. If your question is not covered here, check the frequently asked questions or send us a message.
Rush service: your turn sooner
Deadline for a trade fair, birthday or a broken machine standing idle? Choose rush in the request form and your print gets priority in our schedule. For rush orders we charge a surcharge of 25%, which you simply see upfront in the quote, so no surprises here either.
Extremely tight on time? Just message us via WhatsApp; we will check right away whether your deadline is feasible before you submit the request.
How rush works
- Tick rush in the request form
- Surcharge of 25%, visible upfront in the quote
- Your print goes first in the print schedule
- Doubts about feasibility? Send a WhatsApp (06 21 22 69 03)
Start on-demand printing today, no obligation
You receive a quote first and only decide afterwards. Not sure yet what to have made? Browse the examples of personalised 3D prints. Questions about prices, materials or delivery time? Check the frequently asked questions or the price calculator.