Related: 3D printing design guidelines
Instant Quote · SLS · SLA · FDM
Upload your CAD. Get a price in minutes.
Our online quoting tool analyzes your part, prices it by process, material and finish, and lets you order without waiting on an email back. This page walks you through every step — and answers the questions people ask most.
Before you start, have ready:
An email you can check right now — your access code and quote PDF go there
Your 3D files: .stl, .obj, .step/.stp, .iges/.igs, .3mf, .3dm, .dxf or .dwg (or a .zip)
The units your files were exported in (mm or inches)
Quantity and when you need parts
Any drawings for tolerances, threads or inserts
ISO 9001:2015 certifiedITAR registeredManufacturing since 2008In-house DyeMansion finishingCypress, Orange County, CA
How it works
Six steps from file to order
Most quotes take under five minutes. You can stop after step 5 and download a quote PDF for approval — nothing is ordered until you check out.
1
Enter your email & phone
This is how we verify you and where your access code and final quote PDF are sent. Use an inbox you can open right now.
2
Enter the 6-digit code
It arrives by email within a minute or two. Not there? Check Spam, Junk and Promotions. Each code is good for one session — if you leave, request a new one.
3
Upload your files
Drag and drop or click Browse Files. Accepted: .stl, .obj, .3dm, .step/.stp, .iges/.igs, .3mf, .dxf, .dwg, or a .zip of models — up to about 190 MB per file. Upload several parts at once; each becomes its own line item.
4
Choose process, material & finish
Pick SLS, SLA or FDM, then a material (e.g. Nylon 12, PA11) and a finish such as vapor smoothing, dyeing or bead blasting. Not sure? See the guide below.
5
Review your instant price
The tool calculates volume, surface area and material use. Check the bounding box matches your real part size, then adjust quantity and lead time to see how price changes.
6
Check out — or submit for review
Click Add to Cart, then Proceed to Checkout. If your price shows “TBD,” submit it for review and we’ll email a firm offer.
Get your quote
Start here
Stuck? Email orders@snlcreative.com or call 714-420-8957
Before you upload: are your parts ITAR or export controlled?
Our instant quote tool runs on a third-party cloud service. Files for parts covered by ITAR or the EAR (including CUI or controlled technical data) must not be uploaded here.
Please don’t upload these files
We’ll set up a controlled file transfer and quote your parts directly. Email orders@snlcreative.com or call 714-420-8957. Don’t attach controlled drawings or CAD to your first email, just tell us what you need and we’ll send transfer instructions.
Email us for a controlled quoteWhat happens next
Instant price or reviewed quote
Most parts price instantly. Larger orders, files over 10 MB, or parts with flagged features (like very thin walls) go to our engineers first — that’s a quality check, not a dead end.
Path A
You see a price
- Add to cart and enter shipping details and any notes.
- Review and confirm — your order is Placed.
- Pay online now, or download the invoice to pay later.
- Production starts once payment terms are met.
Path B
You see “TBD” or a review notice
- Click Submit for review.
- Our team checks the files and sends a firm offer by email.
- Accept the offer from the email link — your order is Placed.
- Pay, and we schedule production.
Track your order — you get an email at each stage
PlacedFree for manufacturingManufacturingPost-productionReady for shipping / pickupShipped / Delivered
Choosing a process
Which option should I pick?
Start with what the part has to do. If you’re torn between two, quote both — it takes seconds to switch and compare.
SLS
Selective Laser Sintering
Best for: tough functional parts, snap fits, housings, enclosures and production runs. No support structures, so complex internal geometry is fine.
Typical materials: PA12, PA11, TPU 1301
SLA
Stereolithography
Best for: smooth surfaces and fine detail — appearance models, master patterns, clear parts and anything that will be painted.
Typical materials: engineering and clear resins
FDM
Fused Deposition Modeling
Best for: large parts, high-temperature and flame-rated applications, jigs, fixtures and composite layup tooling.
Typical materials: ULTEM 9085, ULTEM 1010, PEKK, ASA, PC, Nylon 12
Need MJF, full-color PolyJet or continuous carbon fiber (CFF)? We run those in-house too — email your files and our team will quote them directly.
Email orders@snlcreative.comFinishing options
What the finish choices mean
Vapor smoothing
DyeMansion PowerFuse S seals the surface of SLS nylon and TPU — smoother to the touch, easier to clean, more resistant to moisture and staining.
Dyeing
DyeMansion DeepDye colors the part through its surface layer, so scratches don’t show bright white. Black is the most common choice.
Bead blasting
Removes loose powder and evens out the surface to a uniform matte finish. A good base before dyeing or painting.
Need painting, inserts or assembly? Add it in the order notes or see Production Finishing Services.
File prep
Get an accurate price the first time
Most quote surprises come down to units or file quality. Two minutes here saves a back-and-forth later.
Check the units
If a 4-inch part shows up as 4 mm (or 101 inches), the file was read in the wrong units. Fix it in the tool or re-export.
Send STEP when you can
STEP keeps true geometry. STL works too — export at fine resolution so curves don’t print faceted.
One part per file
Split assemblies into individual bodies so each part gets its own price, material and quantity.
Watertight meshes
The tool repairs small mesh errors automatically and flags bigger issues like thin walls before you order.
Attach drawings
Critical tolerances, threads or inserts? Attach a drawing to the part and call it out in the notes.
No CAD file?
We can build one from a physical part or a sketch — see 3D Scanning and Digital Sculpting.
FAQ
Instant quote questions, answered
My parts are ITAR or export controlled. How do I get a quote?
Don’t upload them to the instant quote tool. Email orders@snlcreative.com or call 714-420-8957 and we’ll set up a controlled file transfer and quote your parts directly.
I didn’t get my 6-digit code.
Give it a minute or two, then check Spam, Junk and Promotions. Confirm the email address was typed correctly and request a new code. Corporate filters sometimes hold automated mail — if it still doesn’t arrive, email orders@snlcreative.com.
My code stopped working.
Codes are valid for a single session. If you closed the tab or came back later, enter your email again and use the new code.
What file types and sizes can I upload?
.stl, .obj, .3dm, .step/.stp, .iges/.igs, .3mf, .dxf and .dwg, or a .zip of models (with textures), up to about 190 MB per file. Files over 10 MB may be routed for a quick manual review. For other formats (native CAD, .x_t, etc.), export to STEP or email us.
Why does my price say “TBD”?
The order is above our instant-quote limits for size, quantity or value, or the tool flagged a feature worth an engineer’s look. Click Submit for review — we’ll email a firm offer you can accept with one click.
The price or part size looks wrong.
Check the bounding box first. A part read in the wrong units is 25.4× too big or too small, and the price follows. Switch units in the tool or re-export the file.
How do lead times work?
Choose a lead time option in step 5 — faster options cost more. Actual turnaround depends on process, quantity and finishing. Hard deadline? Put the date in your order notes and we’ll confirm it.
How can I pay? Do you take purchase orders?
Pay online at checkout, or download the invoice and pay later. For a PO, place the order and email the PO with your quote or order ID to orders@snlcreative.com.
Can I quote production quantities?
Yes. Change the quantity to see volume pricing — we run production orders into the thousands of parts. For recurring programs or assemblies, email us and we’ll build a production quote.
Can I pick up locally?
Yes — note pickup in your order and we’ll email you when it’s ready at our Cypress shop: 11235 Knott Ave, Suite A, Cypress, CA 90630.
Are my files kept confidential? What about ITAR?
Your files are used only to quote and build your parts. SNL Creative is ISO 9001:2015 certified and ITAR registered. If your data is export-controlled, don’t upload it here — email us first and we’ll set up a controlled transfer.
The process or material I need isn’t listed.
The instant tool covers our most common SLS, SLA and FDM options. MJF, full-color PolyJet, CFF and specialty materials are quoted by our team — email your files with what you need.
Can I change an order after placing it?
Usually, if it hasn’t started manufacturing. Email orders@snlcreative.com with your order ID and the change as soon as possible.
Ready to see your price?
Upload a file and get a number in minutes. Prefer to talk it through? Our team answers at orders@snlcreative.com.
