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FAQ
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What materials are available?
Can I machine the parts?
How long will my model take to ship?
How do I upload my file?
What format must my file be in?
Is the product green?
What are the dimensional limits and tolerances?
What is the minimum thickness a part can be printed?
You returned my file back advising me there is an error what do I do?
I received my model broken.
There is an error in my model.
How much does it cost?
How does it get protected for shipment?
Where do you ship and how?
What are your payment terms?
What Is An STL File?
How do I export to an STL file from my software?
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What materials are available?
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Currently Protofacturing uses a powder-based process with one type of material that is acceptable for the majority of applications. The parts are post processed in two distinct ways using cyanoacrylate (CA) resin or epoxy resin. The CA resin allows for parts to be quickly finished and is acceptable for most applications. Epoxy resin is used to create stronger parts that can be machined.
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Can I machine the parts?
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Yes if post processed using epoxy resin.
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How long will my model take to ship?
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Most models ship within 3 workdays.
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How do I upload my file?
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Simply use our online quote submission to quickly transmit your files to us for rapid validation and pricing.
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What format must my file be in?
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STL or 3DS. Most 3D CAD software programs will export an STL file. The STL file format will not include any colour information. Any colour information will need to be manually added to the part by Protofacturing. The 3DS file format from Autodesk 3D Studio Max is ideal as all colour mappings for the part are included in the file and need not be added by Protofacturing. See "What Is An STL File?" below.
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Is the product green?
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Our 3DP protototypes are manufactured with an additive process and the result is very little waste. Any excess material is recycled and reused. By rapid prototyping parts we seek to minimize waste of other hazardous materials by eliminating errors at the beginning of the design concept. Using rapid prototyping to validate concepts will limit the amount of time, energy and materials used in later stages of product development.
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What are the dimensional limits and tolerances?
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Dimensionally the accuracy of the parts will be 0.005" per inch. We can produce single parts as large as 10"x15"x8". Larger parts can be built in sections and bonded. Thus allowing for huge models.
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What is the minimum thickness a part can be printed?
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For best results, 1/8” or 0.125” is the minimum thickness that a part can have.
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You returned my file back advising me there is an error what do I do?
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If we have returned your file it is because we have detected an error that will not allow the model to be printed. You will need to return to the original file, correct the error and resend the revised version. This may be due to export setting and can typically be corrected easily.
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I received my model broken.
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If you received your model broken we ask that you contact us immediately at 514.448.4220. Please have your copy of our invoice ready and any of the shipping documents as well. Keep the packaging as you received it. We may ask you to return the part and the original package it was received in back to us in a larger box. We will endeavour to reprint your part during the next build cycle.
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There is an error in my model.
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If you receive your model and detect an error in it we ask you to immediately communicate with us at 514.448.4220. Our customer service department will work with you to confirm where the error originated. If the error is deemed our responsibility we will replace the part at no cost during the next build cycle. We will ask you to return the part that has the error to us collect using the carrier of our choice. A return merchandise authorization number will be given to you by our staff. This RMA# must appear on the package and any correspondance. We will not accept any returned parts without an RMA#. Any parts returned collect to Protofacturing without an RMA# will be refused and returned.
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How much does it cost?
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Go online and submit your file for quotation. Click here to get a quote.
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How does it get protected for shipment?
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Our shipping department is equipped with the proper materials to safely package your part. We ask that you take time and are careful when opening the package as rough handling of the container and removal of the protective packaging is more likely to be the cause of breakage.
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Where do you ship and how?
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Our preferred carrier is Federal Express. We are capable of shipping to any point on the globe.
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What are your payment terms?
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Our terms are credit card payment in advance.
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What Is An STL File?
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The STL file format has become the Rapid Prototyping industry's de facto standard data transmission format, and is the format required to interact with Protofacturing. This format approximates the surfaces of a solid model with triangles. For a simple model such as the box shown in figure 1, its surfaces can be approximated with twelve triangles, as shown in figure 2. The more complex the surface, the more triangles produced, as shown in figure 3.
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Almost all of today's CAD systems are capable of producing an STL file. For the user the process is often as simple as selecting File, Save As, and STL. Below are steps for producing high quality STL files from a number of today's leading CAD systems. In all cases, export your STL file as a Binary file. This saves on time and file size.
As a general rule, changing options such as Chord Tolerance or Angular Control will change the resolution on your STL file. The larger the STL file, the more triangles placed on the surface of the model. For simple geometry (not a lot of curves), the file may only be a couple hundred kilobytes. For complex models, file sizes in the range of 1-5MB will produce good parts. For many geometries, files larger then 5MB are unnecessary and will often just result in more time to get your quote and parts back.
The minimum feature thickness is 0.125”. Anything less then this and features will not develop. Please check your models and make appropriate changes to critical features. (Please note, these are only general guidelines and may not work or produce the best possible STL file in some cases. Please consult your users guide or the software's developers for more information or technical support). Should Protofacturing determine that your STL file is not adequate for production, we will contact you for an updated file.
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How do I export to an STL file from my software?
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Below you will find the steps to take in order to export your part to an STL file format using these software programs:
Alibre
# File
# Export
# Save As >STL
# Enter File Name
# Save
AutoCAD
# Your design must be a three-dimensional solid object to output an STL file.
# Make sure the model is in positive space
# Set Facetres to 10
# At the command prompt type STLOUT
# Select Objects
# Choose Y for Binary
# Choose Filename
CadKey / KeyCreator
# Choose Stereo lithography from Export options
# Enter the filename
# Click OK
I-DEAS
# File >Export >Rapid Prototype File >OK
# Select the Part to be Prototyped
# Select Prototype Device >SLA500.dat >OK
# Set absolute facet deviation to 0.000395
# Select Binary >OK
Inventor
# Save Copy As
# Select STL
# Choose Options >Set to High
# Enter File Name
# Save
IronCAD
# Right Click on the part
# Part Properties >Rendering
# Set Facet Surface Smoothing to 150
# File >Export
# Choose .STL
Mechanical Desktop
# Use the AMSTLOUT command to export your STL file.
# The following command line options affect the quality of the STL and should be adjusted to produce an acceptable file.
# Angular Tolerance - This command limits the angle between the normals of adjacent triangles.
# The default setting is 15 degrees. Reducing the angle will increase the resolution of the STL file.
# Aspect Ratio - This setting controls the Height/Width ratio of the facets. A setting of 1 would mean the height of a facet is no greater than its width. The default setting is 0, ignored.
# Surface Tolerance - This setting controls the greatest distance between the edge of a facet and the actual geometry. A setting of 0.0000 causes this option to be ignored.
# Vertex Spacing - This option controls the length of the edge of a facet. The default setting is 0.0000, ignored.
Pro/E
# File >Save a Copy
# Set type to STL
# Set chord height to 0. The field will be replaced by minimum acceptable value.
# Set Angle Control to 1
# Choose File Name
# OK
Rhino
# File >Save As
# Select File Type >STL
# Enter a name for the STL file.
# Save
# Select Binary STL Files
SolidDesigner
# File >External >Save STL
# Select Binary mode
# Select Part
# Enter 0.001mm for Max Deviation Distance # Click OK
SolidEdge
# File >Save As
# Set Save As Type to STL
# Options
# Set Conversion Tolerance to 0.001in or 0.001mm.
# Set Surface Plane Angle to 45.00
# Save
SolidWorks
# File >Save As
# Set Save As Type to STL
# Options >Output As=Binary, Unit = Inches
# Resolution > Custom, Deviation Tolerance = Minimum (Slide bar to right), Angle Tolerance = 5 degrees
# OK
# Save
Think3
# File >Save As
# Set Save As Type to STL
# Save
Unigraphics
# File >Export >Rapid Prototyping
# Set Output type to Binary
# Set Triangle Tolerance to 0.0025
# Set Adjacency Tolerance to 0.12
# Set Auto Normal Gen to On
# Set Normal Display to Off
# Set Triangle Display to On
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