3D printing service
Order custom plastic parts online with our 3D printing service. Upload your 3D file for an instant quote and receive your prints as soon as tomorrow.
- 30+ material & colour combinations
- No minimum or maximum quantities
- Next-day delivery across the UK
- Up to 30 days interest-free credit for Trade Clients
Brands who trust us
We’ve delivered projects for Amazon, Formula 1 teams, Eurotunnel, the NHS, ASOS, the Natural History Museum, and Gatwick Airport. Our fleet of 50+ machines includes 3D printers from leading brands such as Creality and Bambu Lab.
Is additive manufacturing right for my project?
Whether you need 1 unit or 1000, our STL printing service offers an affordable way to produce your plastic parts on demand.
Bespoke one-offs
How to get something 3D printed
Upload 3D file
Safely upload your model to our online cost calculator. We support STL, OBJ & STEP file formats.
Select printing options
Configure your custom print specifications including material, colour, and lead time.
Complete your order
Receive an instant quote and pay securely online. Your items will then enter our manufacturing queue.
Hassle-free delivery
Our quality control team inspects and carefully packages your 3D prints, ready for next-day delivery.
Should I choose FDM or SLS?
Both our FDM and SLS services deliver high-quality parts, precisely when you need them. Which technology is best for you depends largely on the end-use and budget of your project.
Fused Deposition Modeling
Often the more affordable option, FDM offers a wide range of materials and colours. Our Creality and Bambu Lab 3D printers use optimised profiles to ensure the best quality parts.
Though slightly less accurate for complex prints, it creates strong parts with a selection of desirable properties. FDM also tends to be the go-to for larger prints.
- 1-1,000+ parts
- Wide array of applications
- Effortless design inspection
Selective Laser Sintering
SLS produces industrial-strength parts with unrivalled quality.
It is the preferred 3D printing technology for mechanical prototypes and low-volume batch production of functional components. Our DuraForm ProX PA12 Nylon is available in white or can be dyed black upon request.
- Cost-effective alternative to injection moulding
- Complex geometries, interior features, and undercuts
- Layer lines are almost invisible
Our key 3D printer specifications
FDM
- Delivery from 1 day
- PETG, PLA, TPU, ASA, Carbon Fibre
- From 0.05 - 0.3 mm accuracy
- Max Build Volume of 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.6 m
- Full-scale mass production & design verification
- Visualisation, unseen functional parts & custom art pieces
SLS
- Delivery from 10 days
- PA 12 Nylon
- +/- 0.15% - 0.3% tolerance
- Max Build Volume of 280 x 330 x 420 mm
- Manufacturing functional end-use parts
- Durable mechanical components that withstand long-term real world use
Still not sure? Our expert engineers are always on hand to offer transparent advice.
What material is most suitable for my part?
- Variety of colours
- Differing levels of hardness & flexibility
- Adjustable infill percentage
PLA
- Decorative Parts
- Proof of Concept
- Containers
- Props
PETG
- Mechanical Parts
- Enclosures
- Medical Equipment
- Packaging
ASA
- Garden Items
- Automotive Parts
- Boats
- Exterior Signage
TPU
- Protective Devices
- Sports Gear
- Phone Cases
- Headsets
Carbon Fibre PETG
- Car Parts
- Metal Substitute
- Aerospace Items
- Prototyping
DuraForm ProX PA12 Nylon
- Jigs & Fixtures
- Electronic Housing
- Air Ducts
- Tooling
Rely on our high-performance plastics for demanding industrial applications
Hear from the customers who trust us...
Why use 3D printing for your production needs?
When speed and flexibility are paramount, additive manufacturing shines. Streamline business operations, accelerate product development, and gain a competitive edge. Book your free consultation today!
Make changes on the fly
Want us to implement your latest design iteration mid-order? Let us know and we’ll start using it for the next batch.
Shorter lead times
Go directly from digital design to physical part, without any complex tooling or setup. Your order goes straight into our print queue as soon as payment is made.
Minimise cost-per-part
Additive is cheaper than traditional manufacturing methods for lower volume production. This is typically the case up to several thousand units, especially for smaller commercial components.
Supply chain simplification
True on-demand manufacturing means less resources spent on storage and inventory management. Promptly replace hard-to-source damaged parts, reducing any operational downtime.
Stand out from the crowd
Offer personalised products that set your brand apart from competitors. With no minimum order quantities, you can make each part unique.
Design flexibility
Enjoy increased design freedom with fewer restrictions. Manufacture complex shapes at no additional cost and easily update your models at any time.
Crowdfunding campaigns
Create working prototypes to offer potential investors something tangible when raising funds. A physical product is essential for marketing materials, ads, and validating new ideas.
Fluid customisation
3D printing lets you tailor goods to individual needs with high levels of detail and precision. Think a healthcare device built to fit a customer’s body, or a mod for a specific model of car.
You’re in good company. The UK’s top firms rely on us for plastic part creation...
Are my designs safe?
Each member of our team has signed a non-disclosure agreement to confirm that no client files, images, or IP will be shared without permission.
If you’d like to send us your own NDA too that’s not a problem. Our instant quoting tool also secures all uploaded files for an additional layer of protection.
How much does 3D printing cost?
Several factors can affect prices, but the main ones are: How large the object is, what material you choose and whether you need multiples or a one-off.
The easiest way to reduce your SLS print costs is to nest your models. This involves combining multiple objects to reduce their total bounding volume.
Looking to get a product manufactured today?
Order before 12 PM for same-day UK shipping on weekdays*
Buy now with our Next Day 3D plastic printing and your parts will begin fabrication immediately.
*Subject to manual review. Shipping times will vary depending on model print time. Weekend orders will start printing the following Monday.
How we ensure top-quality 3D printed parts
We take great pride in the calibre and consistency of our service. That’s why every single order undergoes strict quality assurance procedures.
Model assessment
Quality control
Post-processing
Can you 3D print my design?
Yes! We just need an STL, OBJ, or STEP file to print from. Don’t worry if you haven’t got one yet, there are a few ways we can help.
Reproduce a physical object
We’ll 3D scan your item and reverse engineer it into a clean printable file. This includes digitally removing any unwanted wear and tear.
Product design
Our expert Product Design Engineer can turn your idea into a printable 3D file. Just let us know your requirements.
3D marketplaces
Marketplaces like Thingiverse and Printables have a wide range of 3D files available to download.
Design guidelines
Please review our design guidelines before ordering to ensure a successful print.
Frequently asked questions...
Please upload your 3D model in an .stl, .obj, or .step format. Not sure if your file is printable? Email it over to info@surfacescan.co.uk and we’d be happy to advise.
The maximum file size our tool will accept is 290.73 Mb. If you have a larger file, email it over to us for a price.
If you don’t have a suitable file but have the physical object, we can scan it and create one for you.
Our minimum order charge is £10 for FDM 3D printing, £30 for SLA, and £30 for SLS, plus shipping and VAT.
The cost of a 3D print is determined by many factors. These include: the type of filament you require, the complexity of the model, the amount of material used, and any post-processing required.
The number of parts you require also contributes to the total budget. We offer discounts for orders of 25+, 50+, & 100+ units. If you require a larger batch order, get in touch for a bespoke price.
There are ways to make things cheaper, such as nesting your parts together. Use our online pricing tool to get a specific figure for your project.
- Services & Turnaround
- Next Day: 1 Working Day
- Express: 3 Working Days
- Standard: 7 Working Days
These timeframes include both printing and delivery.
- Shipping Cost
- £5.99 flat rate – the same for Next Day, Express, Standard, and Economy services. All orders are tracked, you will receive tracking info once your parts have shipped.
- £20 international orders – Applies to all addresses outside Mainland UK, including Highlands, Islands, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and Europe.
- Order Cut-Off & Working Days
- Daily cut-off is 12:00 PM.
- Orders placed after 12:00 PM begin processing on the next working day.
- Weekends and bank holidays are not counted in these turnaround times.
Example:
If you place a Standard (7 days) order on Tuesday at 4:00 PM, it starts on Wednesday, so you’ll receive it by the following Thursday.
Yes, of course! Our minimum order value is just £10 plus VAT and shipping.
Once you receive your prototype, let us know if there are any changes you’d like to make. When you’re ready, we can go ahead with a larger batch order using the same printing setup to ensure you get the exact same results.
Our FDM printers have a precision tolerance of approximately 0.1 mm on the Z-axis and 0.3 mm on the X and Y.
In some cases, they can be as accurate as 0.05 but this depends on choice of material and printing conditions.
High-performance materials like SLS Nylon PA12 and carbon fibre PETG allow for the creation of parts with robust mechanical properties that stand up against injection moulded alternatives. Moreover, 3D printing’s layer-by-layer additive process permits precise control over material deposition, enabling the optimization of internal structures and load-bearing capabilities.
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) 3D printing operates by using a high-powered laser to selectively fuse successive layers of powdered material into a three-dimensional object. This additive manufacturing process allows for the creation of complex and intricate structures by melting and solidifying the powdered material one layer at a time, without the need for support structures.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing functions by extruding a continuous filament of thermoplastic material, such as PLA or ASA, through a heated nozzle onto a build platform. The nozzle moves in a precise path, depositing layer upon layer of melted material, which rapidly cools and solidifies, building up the desired three-dimensional object from the bottom up.
This differs from traditional manufacturing methods as it offers greater design freedom and customization and can produce highly intricate, complex geometries with reduced material waste. Traditional methods typically involve more extensive tooling and setup for mass production, which is significantly more expensive and time consuming.
3D printing allows you to create all kinds of objects, both functional and for prototyping purposes.
Here are some of the things people use it for:
- Replacement & Spare Parts
- Jewellery
- Art
- Fashion
- Manufacturing
- Prototyping
- Construction
- Car Parts
- Miniatures
We also offer a 3D laser scanning service which we can use to print accurate models of buildings and other large structures for visualisation.
The only limit is your imagination!
Our company print shop is local to Ramsgate, Kent. We can send orders anywhere in the UK fast with cheap shipping rates.
We don’t currently offer printer rentals. However, if you upload your file you can rely on our expert team to bring your vision to life. We’re always happy to discuss the finer details before going ahead, just reach out via the contact information below.
Have you seen our list of 5 lucrative side hustles you can try without owning a printer?
Lets Talk
If you’d like to talk more about 3D printing, please get in touch. We’re ready to answer any questions you might have.