Which file formats are supported by the online quotation system?

Yes. The quotation workflow commonly accepts STEP, STP, IGES, IGS, STL, OBJ, and Parasolid, but acceptance of a file extension does not validate the model. A solid CAD file and controlled drawing are preferable for dimensional review. Before pricing, confirm units, scale, revision, solid validity, surface closure, critical datums, material, process, final condition, quantity, inspection, and delivery. Mesh files can support an initial visual review, but they may need repair and usually do not define datums or tolerances by themselves.

Essential File Formats for a Seamless Quotation

For a quotation, STEP (.step or .stp) and IGES (.iges or .igs) are useful neutral CAD formats when the model is a valid solid. They preserve geometry for dimensional review, but file format alone does not validate units, revision, open surfaces, self-intersections, tolerances, or manufacturability. Provide the file, drawing revision, units, quantity, material or grade, critical geometry, service environment, final condition, inspection method, and delivery target.

The listed CAD formats are commonly accepted, and other formats may also be supported when the file can be reviewed. Confirm the extension, units, revision, geometry condition, and requested process before relying on automated quotation.

• Parasolid (X_T, X_B): A kernel-based exchange format may preserve solid and assembly information. Confirm units, revision, geometry condition, and the required process before relying on an automated quote.

• Stereolithography (.stl): A triangular-mesh format represents geometry. It can support a preliminary quote, but mesh repair, units, tolerances, and design intent should be reviewed before production.

• Wavefront (.obj): A polygon-mesh format is often used in graphics and scanning. Confirm scale, watertightness, surface quality, and the drawing requirements before using it for a manufacturing quote.

For a digital design review, the process described in Stereolithography (SLA) is one of several routes. Select the process from material, feature size, build envelope, orientation, support access, surface, quantity, and final condition; different routes create different material states and post-processing needs.

From Digital File to Physical Part: The Manufacturing Journey

Once your quote receives approval, your design enters our digital manufacturing workflow. The file format you provided is used to prepare the model for one of our advanced manufacturing processes.

Core 3D Printing Technologies

Available additive technologies should be selected from material, performance, geometry, quantity, and budget assumptions. The quote should identify the route, final condition, inspection scope, and exclusions rather than treating a process list as a capability promise.

• Material Extrusion: This process builds parts by heating and extruding thermoplastic filament. Confirm material, nozzle, layer settings, orientation, support, and final inspection for the requested feature.

• Vat Photopolymerization: This process cures liquid resin in a vat; fine detail depends on resin, calibration, orientation, support, and post-cure. A supported file extension does not establish manufacturability, so request engineering review for thin walls, trapped powder, unsupported overhangs, missing datums, or unclear tolerance.

• Powder Bed Fusion: This category includes Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) for plastics and Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) for metals. Select the route from material, feature size, powder handling, orientation, support access, final condition, and inspection method.

• Binder Jetting: This process joins powder with a liquid binder before debinding and sintering. Treat the green body, shrinkage, sintered state, and final measurement as separate requirements.

• Directed Energy Deposition: This process deposits powder or wire with a focused heat source and may suit large parts or repairs. Select it from access, thermal history, machining allowance, material state, and final inspection.

Enhancing Part Performance with Surface Treatments

After printing, secondary operations may change properties, dimensions, and surface condition. The quote should identify the required treatment, sequence, final state, inspection method, and record package.

• Sandblasting: This method may clean a surface or establish a specified roughness. Confirm media, preparation, geometry, contamination controls, and final inspection.

• Heat Treatment: This process can change residual stress, microstructure, strength, hardness, and dimensions. Tie the cycle to the grade and final condition, then verify the result.

Material Selection for Your Application

File compatibility is only the first intake step. Select the material from load, temperature, chemistry, geometry, quantity, final condition, inspection, and regulatory requirements; state the evidence included in the quote.

• Titanium Alloy: This material may suit a low-density design, but grade, process, cleaning, sterilization, biocompatibility evidence, service boundary, and regulatory pathway must be defined before use.

• Stainless Steel: This grade may suit corrosion or general industrial requirements when the grade, geometry, service environment, final condition, and inspection scope are defined. State how deviations are handled.

• Aluminum Alloys: An alloy such as AlSi10Mg may suit a low-density design when load, thermal condition, geometry, final state, and inspection method are specified.

• Plastics: Materials can range from ABS prototypes to high-temperature thermoplastics such as PEEK. Select the grade, conditioning, geometry, service environment, and final inspection from the application.

• Superalloy: An alloy such as Inconel 718 may be evaluated for defined temperature, corrosion, load, geometry, and final-condition requirements. Verify the selected grade and test evidence.

Industry-Specific Solutions

Industry selection should follow the actual part requirement. State application class, load, environment, material, process, final condition, inspection, records, and approval owner before requesting a quote.

• Aerospace and Aviation: These projects may require defined weight, load, geometry, inspection, and approval evidence rather than a general standards claim.

• Medical and Healthcare: These projects require material, cleaning, sterilization, biocompatibility, geometry, inspection, and regulatory review appropriate to the device pathway.

• Automotive: These projects may include prototypes or production parts; define load, quantity, geometry, material, final condition, inspection, and delivery milestone.