How to get an STL file printed

1
Upload

Drop your STL onto the price tool. Several parts? Drop them all in together and each one is priced.

2
Pick & pay

Choose material and colour, see the firm price, and check out online. The price you see is the price you pay.

3
Delivered

We print it, check it by hand and post it tracked. Most orders are dispatched within a few working days, with an Express lane if you are in a hurry.

Grant Harkness, the engineer who prints every Hark Tech order Printed, checked and posted by Grant Harkness, the one engineer behind Hark Tech. Meet the bench →

What does it cost to print an STL?

Orders start at £6, which covers most small parts: clips, brackets, knobs, keyring-sized models. Typical palm-sized prints run £6 to £15, and bigger or engineering-material parts £15 to £40. Five or more identical parts triggers an automatic bulk discount. The exact price for your file, in your material, appears before you pay. There is no £15 to £40 minimum order like the industrial bureaus, and free delivery kicks in at £40.

Not sure which material? PLA suits decorative and indoor parts, PETG is the tough all-rounder for anything outdoor, warm or load-bearing, TPU is flexible, and ABS, ASA, PC and carbon fibre blends cover engineering work. The materials guide compares them honestly, and the upload page explains each choice in plain English next to the price.

Found the model online, or don’t have a file yet?

If you spotted a design on Thingiverse, Printables or MakerWorld, you can order it without downloading anything: search our catalogue of over 100,000 community models and the order page shows a live printed-and-posted price. No file at all? Our design partner can model a replacement from your broken part.

Printing an STL file, answered

I have an STL file but no 3D printer. How do I get it printed?

Upload the STL to our price tool, pick a material and colour, and the firm price appears in seconds. Pay online and we print it in our Basingstoke workshop and post it to you anywhere in the UK, usually within a few working days. No account, no printer and no printing knowledge needed.

How much does it cost?

Minimum order £6, typical palm-sized parts £6 to £15, larger prints £15 to £40 depending on weight, time and material. The exact price appears before you pay.

I downloaded it from Thingiverse or Printables. Can you print it?

Yes, as long as the design’s licence allows us to print it for you. Drop the file into the price tool, or find it in our catalogue and order straight from the model page.

Which material should I pick?

PLA for decorative and indoor parts, PETG for tough or outdoor parts, TPU for flexible ones, and ABS, ASA, PC or carbon fibre for engineering jobs. The upload page explains each in plain English, and if your choice looks wrong for the part we will say so before printing.

What if my STL will not print, or the print fails?

If we cannot print your file we refund you in full within 24 hours. If a print is not right when it arrives, we reprint it free. Every part is checked by hand before it is posted.

Is my STL file kept private?

Yes. Your file stays with one person in Basingstoke and is used only to print your order. Quote files that are not ordered are wiped from the server within 30 days, and we never share or resell customer files.

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