“Just print this file” – and the file is a SketchUp render with zero thickness, reversed faces and text floating in air. Half of 3D print delays come from unprintable files, not printers. Here is how to export STL and STEP correctly, the five mistakes that break prints, and the pre-send checklist that gets your part quoted in one round.
Pillar: materials, costs and possibilities. Service: 3D printing with upload-and-quote.
STL or STEP – which file should I send?
Send STL when the design is final and you just need it printed – STL describes surface geometry every slicer accepts. Send STEP when the design may need editing (tolerance tweaks, splitting, adding holes) – STEP carries true CAD solids our engineers can modify. Best practice: send both plus a screenshot or photo of the intended part. Native files (Fusion, SolidWorks, Blender) help only if we run the same software – STL plus STEP never fails.
What are the five file mistakes that break prints?
One, zero wall thickness – surfaces with no thickness cannot print; give walls at least 0.8 to 1.2 mm for FDM plastics. Two, non-manifold edges and reversed normals – run your slicer’s mesh check before sending. Three, unsupported overhangs beyond 45 degrees without support planning – orient or split the part. Four, wrong units – a 25.4x scale surprise (inches versus mm) prints dollhouse parts; state units explicitly. Five, tiny details below nozzle resolution – 0.3 mm text embosses become blobs; minimum readable embossed text is around 3 to 4 mm tall on FDM.
What is the pre-send checklist?
- Units stated (mm), overall dimensions noted.
- Watertight mesh verified in slicer preview.
- Wall thickness and tolerances marked on critical fits.
- Material or operating conditions specified (load, heat, outdoor).
- Quantity, finish and deadline stated.
- Mating-part photo attached where fit matters.
Files passing this checklist get fixed quotes fastest – our quote flow asks for exactly these.
FAQs
I only have a photo of the broken part. Can you work from that? Yes – photos with a ruler for scale plus key measurements; modelling time is quoted separately from printing.
Can you scan my part? Ask about current scanning capability when you enquire – simple geometries are often faster modelled from measurements than scanned.
Where do I send files? Contact us with STL/STEP, material needs and deadline.
Last updated: 20 September 2026.