3D Printing FAQ: Materials, Sizes, Turnaround & More

We support a wide range of materials including PLA, PLA+, PETG, ASA, ABS, TPU, high-temp PLA (HT PLA), Nylon Carbon Fiber and resin. If you're not sure what's best for your project, we're happy to help you choose.

Which filament should I use?

Safe-heat values are general guides. Ask us about your specific use.

Our machines can print objects up to 13.78" × 12.60" × 12.80" (350 mm × 320 mm × 325 mm) in a single piece. Larger designs can often be printed in parts and assembled.

We have multiple printers running to keep turnaround fast. Most jobs are finished within a few business days, depending on complexity and volume. Need it sooner? Tell us your deadline when you ask for a quote.

1. Confirmation: we review and confirm your print request.
2. Invoice: you receive an invoice with the total cost.
3. Payment: pay the invoice through the emailed link.
4. Print start: we let you know when your job begins.
5. Completion: you're notified when your print is finished.
6. Delivery or pickup: choose local pickup or shipping to your address.

When NWAMAKER LLC creates a custom CAD design (from your sketches, measurements or an existing object), you are paying for the design service and/or the finished print, not for the 3D model file itself by default. If you'd like the file (.STL, .3MF, .STEP), you have these options:

1. Print-only (default): you receive physical prints only. NWAMAKER keeps full rights to the CAD file and no digital files are provided.
2. Licensed file (personal use): for an additional fee you receive the CAD file for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, resale or commercial modification isn't permitted.
3. Full ownership buyout: for an additional buyout fee you receive the CAD file with full ownership rights, and you may use, modify, reproduce or resell the design.

Please note: converting a physical object into CAD is a design service, and ownership of the resulting file follows the terms above. For file access or ownership pricing, mention it when you ask for a quote.

We assess every request to make sure it suits our printers. Print quality depends on the file you provide: the suitability of your STL/OBJ file matters, and very small objects (thimble- or quarter-sized) may need extra care to get the best result, even with post-processing. If issues come up, we'll work with you to resolve them quickly.

Yes. Creators share STL and OBJ files, the digital blueprints for 3D printing, on sites like Thingiverse, Printables and MakerWorld. Some keep rights to their designs while others allow commercial use. With NWAMAKER print services, you pay only for print time, materials and post-processing, not for the design itself.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is one of the most popular types of 3D printing. A plastic filament is fed through a heated nozzle, and the melted plastic is laid down layer by layer to build the part. Filaments range from rigid thermoplastics to flexible elastomers. Here's an FDM printer at work:

Resin 3D printing (often called SLA or MSLA) builds parts layer by layer from a liquid photopolymer resin cured by UV light. Because it cures whole cross-sections at once or uses ultra-fine light paths, it produces exceptionally crisp detail, smooth surfaces and sharp edges. That makes it ideal for intricate miniatures, high-precision engineering prototypes, master patterns and functional parts with tight tolerances.

Yes. FDM is widely used for functional prototypes, custom parts and even end-use products in industries from automotive to healthcare.

Post-processing covers the steps after printing that refine a part's look, function or both: removing supports, sanding or polishing, applying coatings or paint, and assembling multiple printed parts. It turns a raw print into a polished, finished product.

• Renewable source: PLA is made from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane rather than petroleum, and its production generally generates fewer greenhouse gases than traditional plastics.
• Compostability: PLA can be broken down in industrial composting facilities under the right heat and microbial conditions.
• Lower toxicity: PLA is considered non-toxic and gives off fewer fumes while printing than many other plastics.
• Energy: producing PLA typically takes less energy than conventional plastics, and the plants it comes from absorb CO₂ as they grow.

STL files are like a building's blueprint: they describe only the shape of an object as a mesh of triangles, with no colors or textures. That simplicity makes STL ideal for 3D printing.

OBJ files are like a detailed architectural rendering: along with the shape, they can store textures, colors and materials. They can be used for 3D printing with compatible software, but they're more common in modeling and animation.

We specialize in a clean OS reinstall (OS refresh & data backup), the fastest way to remove most malware or slowdowns. Deep malware or ransomware recovery isn't our focus.

We'll recommend high-quality, compatible parts. Parts are priced separately, and we only move forward with your approval.

We can often recover data if the drive still partly works. For more advanced recovery, we may refer you to a specialized service.