Guide
How to prepare a 3D model for printing
To get a 3D model ready for printing, export it as STL, OBJ, 3MF or STEP, make sure it is in the right unit, and check that it fits the 256 x 256 x 256 mm build area. Then upload it on the quotation page, where you can see the model and its dimensions before you send it.
1. Export a supported file
| Format | Keeps its units? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| STL | No | The most common print file. Choose the unit when you upload it. |
| OBJ | No | Choose the unit when you upload it. |
| 3MF | Yes | Slicer project files, including ones with several objects, are fine. |
| STEP / STP | Yes | Exported straight from CAD software. |
Each file can be up to 20 MB, and one request can hold up to 100 MB.
2. Check the units
STL and OBJ files store numbers without a unit. A part you drew as 35 mm wide in centimetres (3.5) would be read as 3.5 mm if treated as millimetres. On the quotation page, set the Model unit to Millimetres, Centimetres or Inches for each STL or OBJ file, then check the dimensions shown next to the model.
If the model is only a few millimetres across, or thinner than one print layer, the unit is almost certainly wrong.
3. Make sure it fits
We print on Bambu Lab P2S printers with a 256 x 256 x 256 mm build area, so each piece has to fit inside that space. If your part is larger, message us on WhatsApp before you order.
4. Check the model is complete
- The model should be a closed solid. The quotation page shows the volume when the geometry can be read reliably; if it does not, the mesh may have gaps.
- Very thin walls and tiny details may not print cleanly.
- Choose 0.16 mm Final details for small features, and 0.24 mm Draft for quick prototypes.
Checklist before you upload
- The file is STL, OBJ, 3MF or STEP, and under 20 MB.
- The unit is set correctly and the dimensions look right.
- Each piece fits inside 256 x 256 x 256 mm.
- You have chosen the material, colour, layer height, infill and quantity.
Questions people ask
Which file format should I use?
STL, OBJ, 3MF and STEP. STL is the most common. 3MF and STEP keep their units; STL and OBJ do not, so choose the unit when you upload them.
How large can my file be?
Up to 20 MB per file and up to 100 MB of models in one request.
My model looks tiny. What went wrong?
The model is probably in the wrong unit. A part drawn in centimetres or inches but read as millimetres comes out 10 or 25.4 times too small. Change the Model unit on the quotation page and check the dimensions again.
What is the largest part you can print?
Each piece has to fit inside the 256 x 256 x 256 mm build area of the Bambu Lab P2S. If your part is larger, message us on WhatsApp before you order.
Related pages
Have a model, or just an idea?
Upload your 3D model for a free quotation, or message us on WhatsApp and we can design the part with you first.