3D printing services allow you to bring to reality the 3D designs that you have in mind. You can avail of different types of 3D printing services such as rapid prototyping, laser cutting, 3D designs, and more.
If you want to 3D print an object but you don’t have a 3D printer or you’re too busy to look for the nearest shop near you, don’t worry. There are many online 3D printing services that can help you do the job.
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Top Cheap 3D Printing Services
The answer is on the tip of your fingertips. To help you find one, check out our comprehensive list below.
| Name | Price | Details | Quotes | Average Turnaround Time (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ponoko | Base fee - $4; printing + materials ($cm/3 from)- $0.90; shipping (package) - $5 | Prime members are entitled to discount. | None | 5 - 10 |
3D Printing Ally | Not available | There is not much detail about the price from 3D Printing Ally but you can upload your work to get a quote. | Instant | 1 - 2 |
Proto Labs | Prices start at $95 | One can submit a 3D CAD model to get an interactive quote. | Instant | 1 - 7 |
Voodoo | Prices are determined by the material and size. | Pickup is free while general shipping is to be defined. Fast delivery within New York City is available for $15. The company uses a software-driven factory to keep their costs low and help their customers save more. | Instant | 1 - 5 |
Sculpteo | Depends on material, size, and design. | Sculpteo offers an interactive tool to estimate the price depending on the material and size.. For example, a 41x2.7x25.5 mm using a white plastic material with 100 - 150 layer thickness has a unit price of $8.01. Express service (2 days) - $17.28; Economy - $5.81. | Instant | 2 -5 |
3D Hubs | Prices in 3D Hub differs according to the 3D printer owners. | One owner charged a $10 startup plus $2.5/cm3. Not much detail about pricing is available but you can check some details on their site. | Instant | 2 |
i.Materialise | Printing prices start as low as €0.55/$0.60 per cm³ | Quantity discount, ordering two or more copies decreases the price automatically. | Instant | Priority: 2; Standard: 6-15 |
Shapeways | Based on size, density, material, and part. | For models with a bounding box over 1,000cm3 and a density less than 5%, the price is $.30 per bounding box cm3, $.80 per material cm3, and $7.00 per part.. This site has no volume discounts but offers an educational discount for all US students and educators. | Instant | 10-15 |
MakeXYZ | Depends on design, volume, size, and materials. | A size 9 ring with a 2.14cm3 volume, 21.61cm2 surface area and 4.40m x 4.40 x 0.70 cm bouncing box using a plastic material could cost you $6.5. Meanwhile, a much bigger object with 35.56cm3 volume, 215.51cm2 surface area and 6.03 x 8.20 x 8.20cm3 bouncing box using a PLA Plastic high-resolution materials might cost $53.88 according to the price checker. Per Maxexyz pricing is based on the volume part of the file. | Instant | 12 |
SD3D | Based on memberships. | This company offers a number of memberships: Professional, Corporate, and Enterprise that comes with a different percentage of discounts. The Professional comes with 40% off for 3D printed parts. The Corporate has 60% discount while the Enterprise offers 80% discount. | Instant | 3-7 |
Before I give you the list of the 3D printing companies that offer the best services online, I’ll give you an overview of what this industry has to offer.
What Do 3D Printing Businesses Offer?
3D printing companies offer 3D printing jobs like 3D design and printing. This is very useful for prototyping or bringing to life your ideas in reality. This technology is practical and is also applicable to aerospace, medicine, and education.
For this reason, 3D printing manufacturers and companies have become in demand. In fact, they are experiencing rapid growth and this is expected to continue in the coming years. Even individuals who own a 3D printing machine and are knowledgeable of the craft offer this to those who need it.
3D printing technologies are very accessible. In fact, there are a lot of 3D printing online shops and you can easily find them when you browse and check the internet.
Who Needs This Service?
3D printing applies to almost any area of your life. So getting your own machine will be very helpful. However, if you are not willing to invest in one, then a 3D printing service is perfect for you.
Here are more reasons why you should get a 3D printing service.
You’re a Business Person
If you are in business and you need a working prototype for a client presentation, using a 3D printer will make the process easy and fast by delivering 3D printed parts and functional prototypes.
Some of the individuals who use this type of service include Architects, Engineers, Real Estate Brokers, Interior Designers, and Business owners. They prefer this approach because it reduces cost, time and labor.
You Want Lesser Investment Risk
3D printers can be cheap or expensive depending on the brand and model. However, buying one and maintaining it isn’t that easy and practical especially if you do not use it often. These types of machines are not a plug-and-play thing, there are tons of things that you have to consider when you want to get one.
Sometimes it might involve training yourself or staff, setting up software, maintenance, purchasing materials (filaments, print heads, etc.) and disruption operations. This type of service makes 3D printing affordable and accessible to anyone who needs it.
You’re Not Technology Savvy
Owning a high quality 3D printer can help you save if you have a business or you have to do three-dimensional printing often for some reason. Yes, owning one will be practical if you know how to use it and make money from it. However, if you don’t and if you rarely need it, then the best option for you is to get a 3D printing company’s service.
You Want to Customize Something
Customized items are very popular nowadays. In most cases, even gifts like mugs or key chains are now customized by adding the recipient’s name or photo. Custom 3D printing is a real thing.
With this, you can almost realize anything you have in mind be it a stand for iPad, a bottle opener, a pencil container, a cup, an accessory holder or even a shoe.
The benefit of customizing shoes is that it caters to the actual shape and size of your feet, which delivers great comfort. For athletes, this could help them maximize their performance.
You Want to Try New Stuff, Materials, Designs
Companies that 3D print objects from models are not only for those who are completely inexperienced because even experts seek this type of service from time to time to try or learn new stuff, materials and design.
According to Stratasys Directs, a number of 3D printer owners come to them to try new materials that they don’t have or to customize their tools, jigs, and fixture.
You Want to Save Money on 3D Printing
At some point, you might think that owning a machine will help you save more, but this also depends on how frequently you need it and how much the maintenance cost is.
For instance, according to Sculpteo.com, it is more affordable to avail of this service from a 3D printing business than buying Makerbot Replicator 2x and Formlabs Form 1 for one or a few 3D prints.
Sculpteo.com calculates its 3D printing price by considering the printer cost (divided by output over 3-year life) materials, maintenance, labor, and electricity.
So, for example, a ring measuring 23 x 11.6 x 23mm will cost $8.37 from Sculpteo, $9.34 from Makerbot Replicator 2x, $11.01 from Formlabs Form 1 and $33.10 from Stratasys Mojo.
How much do these services cost?
Online 3D printing service cost depends on several factors. For Shapeways, service cost includes the materials used, machine space and labor.
On the other hand, Sculpteo’s pricing considers these three factors: investment cost of the printer, materials and maintenance, and labor and electricity. It can also use this formula: retail price of printer and installation cost over a 3-year timeframe.
A small item is cheaper compared to bigger items because it uses less material and reduced labor. However, the complexity of the design and the number of parts have nothing to do with the price.
Source: SculpteoIf you are looking for this type of service it is important that you check the price well because the cost can differ up to 100%. You can use 3D Printing Price Check. The site allows you to upload an STL file in mm or in units and will give you an estimate.
You can only find a cheap service after making a few rounds of comparison. The price should not be a great concern though as this technology is deemed low-cost and fast. In addition, more and more companies are starting to offer this service. With tighter competition, the price will surely go down.
Best Online Services for 3D Printing
We know that there are tons of 3D printing businesses out there, so choosing the best one might be challenging. So, to spare you from the hassle of research and to help you save time, we create this comprehensive list of 3D printing stores that offer commercial 3D services.
3D Hubs
This is a network of thousands of 3D printers all over the world. You can upload your 3D design in .stl or .obj format, choose a material for your application and select a 3D printing service from various 3D printers.
To help you decide it will show you the price, speed, and quality produced by different individuals or businesses who offer the service. The average work around time is 2 days (48 hours) but 50% of the orders are delivered within 24 hours.
3D Hubs also offers a number of materials to choose from including fiber-reinforced nylon that is as strong as aluminum but as cheap as plastic. Rigid opaque plastic for realistic and functional prototypes with impressive details and high accuracy. Meanwhile, transparent plastics work well for see-through parts and prototypes, full-color sandstone, simulated ABS and Industrial metals to name a few.
- A network of thousands of 3D printers around the globe
- Upload your 3D design, choose your material, and select a 3D printing service
- Shows you the price, speed, and quality produced
3D Printing Ally
3D Printing Ally's online 3D printing service caters to any industry and 3D print any product in any size. It offers custom parts and has a fast turnaround time of 24 hours.
They also offer an instant 3D printing quote by uploading your .stl file. If you have a CAD design but can't decide the material that you should use for it, the site has a model uploader feature for this.
This site uses different technology including Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused deposition modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), MultiJet Printing (MJP) and ColorJet Printing (CJP).
It also offers a number of materials like DuraForm PA, ABS-M30, Polycarbonate, Ultem 9085, VisiJet SL Clear, VisiJet Crystal and Ceramic to deliver any 3D printed object you have in mind.
- 3D print any product in any size
- Offer instant quote by uploading your file
- Uses different technology and materials
i.Materialise
This site is more than an online 3D printing service as it helps you discover the unimaginable. With its 20 different materials and over 100 possible color combinations, you can turn all your ideas into 3D printed reality. They also offer polishing, dyeing, gold plating and more.
The site also includes 3D printing tutorials to help you design, print, scan and get yourself familiar with 3D printing materials. For those who do not have the inclination to learn 3D designing, the site has a "Hire a 3D Designer" section.
The process with i.Materialise is fast, easy and affordable. You can order in seconds with instant pricing and automatic file checking.
- 20 different materials with 100 color combinations
- Also offer polishing, dyeing, gold plating
- Instant pricing and automatic file checking
MakeXYZ
MakeXYZ is a US company that offers a full menu of 3 printing services including different technologies like FDM, SLA, SLS, and Polyjet. The site is very versatile because it also accepts different types of files and materials.
The process is very easy because you can have a MakeXYZ print manager to handle everything. If you have a 3D file, you can also upload it and the print manager will handle the logistics. If you just want to connect to a 3D printer directly, that is possible too.
The site includes a "Find 3D Printers" list that includes the printer's name, location and his/her 3D print capabilities. One advantage of this is that working with a 3D printer may speed up the process and you might get the print soon, like on the same day.
- Offers different technology like FDM, SLA, SLS, Polyjet
- Work with materials like ABS, PLA, Nylon, Wood, Paper, sandstone, ceramic, resin, etc
- Can provide a print manager to handle the complete process
Ponoko
This site is a 3D printing marketplace because it connects the customers to manufacturers. Ponoko doesn't do the manufacturing itself but uses a network of manufacturers all over the world who perform the additive manufacturing process using their own machines.
Ponoko has a standard turnaround period of 1 week but it is also possible to ship the 3D printed parts on the same day. It has 180,000 designers, 550,000 custom products, over 99 beautiful materials and big-time customers like Oracle, Google, Cisco, Disney and Autodesk to name a few. Most importantly, they offer one of the cheapest services.
- 3D printing marketplace and network that connects customers to manufacturers
- The process easy, fast and low-cost
- Offers over 99 types of materials
Proto Labs
This 3D printing service uses Industrial 3D printing, an additive manufacturing process that works best for rapid prototyping, complex designs, multipart assemblies, and functional end-use parts. Proto Labs is one of the companies with the fastest turnaround time.
They can ship or deliver custom prototypes and low-volume production parts in as fast as one day. It has global facilities in Europe and Japan. The company is now the world's fastest on-demand manufacturer of custom and functional prototypes and low-volume production parts with manufacturing facilities in seven countries.
- Fast product development
- 3D printing service uses industrial 3D printing
- Uses materials like ABS, aluminum, Polypropylene, nylon, stainless steel, cobalt chrome
- With global facilities in Europe and Japan
Sculpteo
This 3D printing service aims to connect you to 3D designers to give you access to thousands of ideas from designers and businesses. You can browse their collection and customize your 3D model for printing. If you need training resources to learn 3D printing or expand your expertise, the site includes ebooks, webinars, and tutorials.
Sculpteo uses different technologies to cater to different materials. These are the technologies they use for each material you wish to utilize on your application.
- Plastic/Alumide
- Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
- Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
- Resin/Wax
- Stereolithography (SLA)
- Digital Light Processing (DLP)
- Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP)
- MultiJet Printers
- Metal
- DLP
- Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
- Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
- Multicolor
- Binder Jetting
- Selective Deposition Lamination
- Triple-jetting technology(PolyJet)
Here’s a table of the technology, process, materials used by Sculpteo including the advantage and disadvantages of using it in delivering the 3D printed objects you desire.
Just like other 3D printing services, Sculpteo is very easy to use. Just upload your file, the website allows over 25 formats for your convenience. They will repair it if there are issues and give you an instant online quote. Then, set up the quantities, optimize your object using their 3D tools and place your order.
Their normal turnaround time is 24 to 72 hours. The company is asking for an extra 2 days for dyed plastic. As for silver material, the average delivery time is 21 days.
- Just upload your file, allows over 25 formats
- They repair if there are issues
- Set up the quantities, optimize your object, and just place order
SD3D
SD3D aims to be the one-stop-shop for 3D printing services in San Diego, CA by bringing you a group of aspiring entrepreneurs from different fields of background including engineering, design, business, and economics.
The company has an automated system that offers one of the most affordable prototyping and manufacturing solutions in the 3D printing market. They also use a Cloud-based network to monitor print status and print objects in batches.
SD3D offers a huge variety of materials. Their standard turnaround time is 3 to 7 days but they also offer an expedition service with a $40 fee depending on the size and quantity of your project.
Due to the extensive options that the company offers, you can surely find a service that is within your budget be it for pure rapid prototyping, high-resolution 3D prints with an added finish or large volumes.
- Uses cloud network to monitor print status
- Materials include PLA, ABS, T-Glase, PET+, Bridge Nylon
- Services include pure rapid prototyping, high-resolution 3D prints with a finish, large volumes and more
Shapeways
Shapeways is one of the leading 3D printing services in the world. It is a marketplace where users can design and upload their own files. As these designers easily sell their work, Shapeways process the manufacturing, distribution, customer service, and payment.
The company offers over 50 materials to 3D print your project including plastics, porcelain, aluminum, porcelain, silver, and sandstone to name a few. Standard turnaround time with Shapeways depends on the material ordered and the shipping option.
However, they offer a rush production that delivers within 2 business days. The website has a Customer Service team to help customers deal with late orders, returned items or issues after delivery.
- The leading 3D printing services in the world
- Offers over 50 materials to 3D print your project
- Marketplace where users design and upload their own files
Voodoo
Voodoo Manufacturing offers small-batch manufacturing with high-volume 3D printing. It offers to bridge the gap between prototype and mass productions, which makes it one of the best 3D printing services in the US.
The process with Voodoo is very easy. First, you will start with your own 3D model or have their professional designers create one for you. You can make one anywhere from 1 to 10,000 parts in as fast as 24 hours.
The company offers direct print, volume printing, print API, and 3D design. They have worked with Autodesk, Syfy, Intel, Universal and Microsoft to name a few, so you can guarantee the quality of their output as they have worked with these prominent companies.
- 3D prints high-volume for mass productions
- Start with your own 3D model or have professional designers create
- Offers direct print, volume printing, print API
- Offers small-batch manufacturing with high-volume 3D printing
Xometry
Xometry offers high-quality 3D printing services including prototypes and production parts. The best part that I love about it, is that it offers free shipping on all US orders with no minimum orders. You can order any type of 3D project because they have over 60 metal and plastic materials in different colors. They have materials for all applications.
Xometry is making waves and is becoming more and more popular because it is versatile. It 3D prints anything you have in mind. It offers millions of possible combinations of materials, finishes, tolerances, markings, and certifications for orders. They are also easy to use. You can get the parts delivered right to your door without the hassle of sourcing, project management, logistics, and shipping.
They also deliver custom parts to your specifications. Most importantly, they guarantee quality because they back every part they ship with the Xometry Quality Guarantee. You can get an instant quote for any 3D printing service you desire to get from them by just uploading the 3D model. If you have a lot of 3D models, no worries, Xometry allows you to drag and drop unlimited numbers of 3D models.
- Easy to use
- No minimum order
- Guarantee quality
- Offers instant quote to any project
- Endless options with over 60 materials
- Free shipping on all U.S. orders
Conclusion
Getting online 3D printing services or a professional 3D printing service is the most convenient solution if you want to get a prototype or a certain 3D project done fast without spending too much. If you own industrial 3D printers, this is also a good chance for you to offer a printing service online.
If you need to learn more about 3D printing technology or additive manufacturing, feel free to check our homepage.
