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Service Levels and Dispatch Methods
Service Levels & Dispatch Methods
We offer three service levels for 3D printing and CNC machining to suit your project timescales and budgets. Most requirements can be fulfilled with our Express service, which provides next-day shipping for 3D printed parts and three-day shipping for CNC machined parts. Different dispatch methods are available, depending on where you are based.
Cost or Time?
We never compromise on quality, so our service levels are designed to help you meet tight timescales or economy budgets.
Shipped in 3d printing
Shipped in CNC Machining
Please Note: all final data for our Express service level is required by 4.30pm
For all of our service levels, if your 3D Printed part or CNC Machined part requires additional finishing options, additional lead time will be incurred. See our Finishing page for details of the options available.
Express service for 3D printed prototype parts
If time is of the essence, we ship 3D printed parts in one working day with our Express service. Quality is never compromised, so you can be sure your Express parts will always be produced to the same high standards. Machine settings and build orientation are optimised to suit the part’s functional or aesthetic requirements, not build speed.
You can specify the level of finish required (see our Finishing options page). Depending on the 3D printing technology used, we can wash parts in cleaning solution, remove support witness marks, remove build lines, apply a light bead blast, and spray with lacquer to seal the surfaces.
Standard and Economy service for 3D printed prototype parts
Our standard service level for 3D printed parts is three working days from receipt of order to shipping, and Economy is an eight-day service. There is no reduction in quality for the Economy service, just a longer dispatch time.
With both Standard and Economy, we offer a wide range of Finishing options for 3D printed parts. If we need to outsource specialist finishing, delivery times may be extended.
Express service for CNC machined parts
If you order CNC machined parts on our Express service, we ship them within three days. We do not lower our quality standards to achieve this rapid turnaround but the part must meet our CNC Express criteria.
Standard and Economy service for CNC machined parts
Our standard service for CNC machined parts provides shipping in seven working days from receipt of data, while the Economy service ships in 12 working days. Within reason, there are no restrictions on Inspection and Finishing options that can be applied with the Standard and Economy services, though delivery times may be extended if we need to procure materials or outsource specialist finishes.
Dispatch options for prototype parts
Whether you are working from your company’s premises, a satellite office or from home, the delivery options are the same.
We deliver for free within a 15-mile radius of our Royston premises using our own vehicles.
Customers can also collect parts. Just let us know you wish to do this when placing your order.
For customers further than 15 miles away, we will send using either Royal Mail or DPD Local depending on the size and how quickly you need your item, charged accordingly.
Quotes, deadlines and file transfers
You can use our online enquiry form any time to request a quote. We endeavour to respond the same day to enquiries received by 4.00pm unless they are complex.
If you wish to use our Express service for 3D printed parts then we need your request by 4.00pm or for CNC machined parts, then we require your request by 1.00pm
We prefer STEP files but we can also accept IGES, X_T and STL files. If you have particular requirements for tolerances, threads or other special requirements, we also need 2D drawing files. Up to ten files can be uploaded via the website when requesting a quote. If you have more than ten files or they are particularly large, please contact us on 01763 249760 to discuss other options.
Request for Quote and Placing Your Order Times | ||
Express Orders Only | RFQ | Order Received by |
3D Printing | 4pm | 5pm |
CNC | 1pm | 5pm |
All other Service Level orders received after 1pm will be schedule from the next working day.
Talk to us
For all your prototyping requirements, talk to us about your project on 01763 249760 or complete the enquiry form below to request a quote.
Office team
Our office team manages everything from the commercial, consulting and planning of the business through to the management of customer quotations and invoicing. If you’d like to meet the team, and take a tour of our prototyping facilities, please contact us.
Justin Pringle
Managing Director
Hannah Game
Sales Manager
Vikki Pringle
Accounts and Company Secretary
Adam Sharkey
Senior Sales Advisor
Wendy Webb
Sales Advisor