The 3D Printing Handbook by Hubs
Our founders literally ‘wrote the book’ on 3D printing.
Read article3D Printing Service Leicester
We manufacture high-quality, competitively priced custom prototypes & production parts. Upload a CAD file for an instant 3D printing quote. Order parts in 5 minutes from your desk.
Get an instant 3D Printing quote All uploads are secure and confidential- Instant quotes for up to 1,000 parts
- Instant DfM feedback on every quote
- Lead times from 1 business day
- FDM, SLS, SLA & MJF
- 25+ plastics & 35+ colors
- Rapid prototyping & full-scale production
- ISO9001, ISO13485, AS9100 certified manufacturing partners
Over 6 million parts delivered to 35,000+ companies
Our online 3D printing services
Our online 3D printing services leverage a global network of over 2,400 3D printing machines, which means our customers get both competitive prices and fast lead times. We specialize in four processes, bringing you everything you need for custom 3D printing projects, from rapid prototyping with FDM to small production runs of 3D prints for industrial applications.
Our 3D printing service has been rated 4.9/5
Over 296 customers are satisfied with our 3D printing service.
“Great service. Had multiple orders sorted by this hub”
—
Nathan, Leicester
Standard TPU, FDM
“Model looking better than expected and hub was a great help, great service”
—
Callum, Leicester
Standard PLA, FDM
“Excellent service and communication, always works within the expected timeframe and great print quality with clear communication if there are any problems.”
—
Nadia, Leicester
Standard PLA, FDM
“Excellent. The one word that can describe the service provide, the parts produced. ”
—
Morgan, Leicester
Standard PLA, FDM
“Great quality prints, good value and fast! ”
—
gareth, Leicester
Standard PLA, FDM
“Excellent service and communication. The print was for my final aesthetic model of my final major project and i could not be happier with the service and quality.”
—
Anish, Thurmaston
Rubber-like resin, SLA/DLP
“Quick response professional service, Recommend Highly.”
—
richard, Loughborough
Standard Nylon, FDM
“So happy with my prints - Steve was able to recommend which print machine would be the best for my prints and was helpful throughout the order.”
—
Olivia, Leicester
Standard PLA, FDM
“Very good quality for fine 3d prints! I needed a good finish for a 3rd year major project (aesthetic version) and wasn't disapointed.”
—
william, leicester
FDM
“Prints received quickly and of amazing quality! Thank you so much”
—
Liam, Loughborough
Clear resin, SLA/DLP
“good quality, customer service and delivery ”
—
Daniel, Loughborough
Standard PLA, FDM
“If you're looking for fast affordable prints with great quality and service then look no further. ”
—
Archie, Loughborough
Carbon-fiber reinforced Nylon, FDM
“Amazing, so quick and so reasonably priced! Also such a helpful person and he also took all the supports off and cleaned them up perfectly. Thank you so much!”
—
Elle, Loughborough
Standard PLA, FDM
“Fantastic prints of ninjaflex. Great service. Parts came out great ”
—
Adam, Loughborough
Standard TPU, FDM
“Very outstanding person, prints are done in perfect conditions! recommended!”
—
julius, loughborough
Standard PLA, FDM
“Great value and very fast, would use again”
—
Jack, Loughborough
Clear resin, SLA/DLP
“Great chap! Good to work with and reliable. Highly recommend. ”
—
Luke, Loughborough
Standard PLA, FDM
“These are by far the best prints Ive had. I was starting to loose faith in the method but Im beyond happy with these now”
—
Matthew, Coalville
Standard resin, SLA/DLP
“Very fast, high quality print, very good job of cleaning up the support material.”
—
Peter , Rugby
Standard resin, SLA/DLP
“Very communicative, accommodating and friendly. Parts received were of great quality and posted quickly. Excellent experience all round. 5*”
—
James, Hinckley
Standard PLA, FDM
“Came quick and response is fast and helpful.”
—
Jamie, Tollerton
Standard ABS, FDM
“Superb. Will definitely order from again.”
—
Ben, Clifton
Standard resin, SLA/DLP
“Awesome stuff, great prints, lovely work :)”
—
Paul, Nottingham
Standard PLA, FDM
“Great service - parts are spot on, really good quality. Customer service and communication all top notch. I would highly recommend this hub for your printing needs, I know I'll be back!”
—
Stephen, Beeston
Standard PETG, FDM
“Quick printing time, good quality product. No Issues”
—
Michael, Long Eaton
Standard PLA, FDM
Our experience in numbers
145,000 engineers served
35,000 businesses
240 manufacturing partners
6M+ parts & prototypes produced
27% of Fortune 500 companies
4200+ machines
We use powerful automation to make custom 3D printing easy
We’re eliminating slow and antiquated processes with automated engineering tools to help you reduce development cycles and increase the speed at which projects are delivered.
Instant 3D printing quotes
Upload a CAD file, receive a 3D printing quote in seconds. No more back and forth with suppliers or long email chains.
Automated DfM feedback
You automatically receive manufacturability feedback on all 3D prints. No more waiting for a technician before knowing you can proceed to production.
Online order management
Easily manage orders online, track deliveries and share important details with others on your team.
Instant 3D printing quotes
Upload a CAD file, receive a 3D printing quote in seconds. No more back and forth with suppliers or long email chains.
Automated DfM feedback
You automatically receive manufacturability feedback on all 3D prints. No more waiting for a technician before knowing you can proceed to production.
Online order management
Easily manage orders online, track deliveries and share important details with others on your team.
Comparison of our 3D printing services
Need help choosing? See our guide to selecting the right 3D printing process.
3D printing process
| FDM | SLA | SLS | MJF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available materials | 10 | 11 | 2 | 2 |
| [US] Lead time in days | From 1 | From 2 | From 3 | From 3 |
| [EU] Lead time in days | From 1 | From 2 | From 3 | From 3 |
| [US] Maximum build size | 19.68'' x 19.68'' x 19.68'' | 5.7" x 5.7" x 6.8" | 16.5" × 19.7" × 16.5" | 14.9'' x 11.2'' x 14.9'' |
| [EU] Maximum build size | 500 x 500 x 500 mm | 145 × 145 × 175 mm | 400 x 480 x 400 mm | 380 x 285 x 380 mm |
| [US] Dimensional accuracy | ± 0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.0196'' | ± 0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.006" | ± 0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.012'' | ± 0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.012'' |
| [EU] Dimensional accuracy | ± 0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.5 mm | ± 0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.15 mm | ± 0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.3 mm | ± 0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.3 mm |
| Prototyping applications | Low-fidelity, proof-of-concept prototyping and visual design verification. | Detailed visual prototypes (especially of injection molded parts). | Functional and high-fidelity prototypes. Similar to MJF. | Functional and high-fidelity prototypes. Similar to SLS. |
| End-part applications | Non-visual end parts, such as jigs and fixtures. | Small, smooth, non-functional end parts. | Small batches of functional plastic parts. Similar to MJF | Small batches of functional plastic parts. Similar to SLS. |
Choose from a broad range of 3D printing materials
Need help choosing? We have a whole range of resources on selecting the right 3D printing material for your application
${ materialSelected.name }
${ materialSelected.name }
${ materialSelected.longDescription }
${ el.name }
${ i18nFdm }
${ el.name }
(${ fdmSubsetsNylon.length } ${ i18nTypes })
(${ el.subsets.length } ${ i18nTypes })
(${ el.subsets.length } ${ i18nType })
${ i18nSls }
${ el.name }
(${ slsSubsetsNylon.length } ${ i18nTypes })
(${ slsSubsetsNylon.length } ${ i18nType })
${ i18nMjf }
${ el.name }
(${ mjfSubsetsNylon.length } ${ i18nTypes })
(${ mjfSubsetsNylon.length } ${ i18nType })
${ i18nSla }
${ el.name }
(${ el.subsets.length } ${ i18nTypes })
(${ el.subsets.length } ${ i18nType })
Standard 3D printing post processing
FDM
Standard (no additional post-processing)
- All surfaces must have a consistent visual appearance
- Support structures are removed
- Excess support/build material are removed
- All parts are printed with 3 outline / perimeter shells or a wall thickness of 1.2 mm
- Top and bottom layers will have a minimum thickness of 0.6 mm (6 layers at 100 um)
SLA
Standard (no additional post-processing)
- All support material is removed and support nibs are sanded smooth
- For clear resins, a polishing oil is applied
- Formlabs materials are cured in a Form Cure using the following settings which follow the official Formlabs "Recommended Cure" settings
Formlabs Cure settings
| Resin | Post-cure time (mins) | Post-cure temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Standard clear | 15 | 60 °C |
| Standard black | 30 | 60 °C |
| Standard white | 30 | 60 °C |
| Standard grey | 30 | 60 °C |
| Tough 2000 | 30 | 70 °C |
| Durable | 60 | 60 °C |
| Grey pro | 15 | 80 °C |
| High temp | 120 | 80 °C |
| Flexible | 15 | 60 °C |
| Rigid | 15 | 80 °C |
SLS/MJF
Standard (no additional post-processing)
- All unfused powder is removed via bead blasting (first) and air blasting (second)
- Air pressure range of 2 - 5 bar or 29 - 72.5 psi
- Glass beads with diameter 70-110 microns
- No additional post-processing
How we ensure high-quality 3D printed parts
Every order includes our standard inspection report. Further reports and certifications are available on request, submit an order to begin.
Standard
- Quantity of parts
- Number of parts inspected
- Surface finish
- Tolerances
Standard
On request
- Quantity of parts
- Number of parts inspected
- Surface finish
- Tolerances
Founded
2015
Number of machines
63
Capabilities
MJF, FDM, SLS
3D printing resources for engineers
3D printing vs. CNC machining
Learn the practical differences between CNC machining and 3D printing and how to select the right technology for manufacturing end-use parts and functional prototypes.
Read article
3D printing with PLA vs. ABS: What's the difference?
PLA and ABS are two essential materials for 3D printing with FDM. They are also two of the most popular materials on our platform. This comparison will help you choose which material to use for your 3D-printed custom parts.
Read article
Dimensional accuracy of 3D printed parts
This article presents the expected dimensional accuracy of parts produced via 3D printing and discusses why part inaccuracies occur.
Read article
Key design considerations for 3D printing
A list of things to keep in mind when designing a model for 3D printing - regardless of the technology that you will be printing with.
Read article
How to design snap-fit joints for 3D printing
This guide discusses the benefits of 3D printing snap-fits and gives design and material recommendations.
Read article
SLA 3D printing materials compared
Compare the main SLA 3D printing resins - standard, tough, durable, heat resistant, rubber-like, dental and castable - by material properties and find the best option for your application.
Read article
3D printing STL files: A step-by-step guide
Learn how to avoid low quality prints or unnecessarily large 3D files by exporting your STL file in the correct resolution.
Read article
Selecting the optimal shell and infill parameters for FDM 3D printing
Shell and infill properties impact the performance and cost of FDM 3D printing. Learn how to optimize these features for your 3D printed part
Read article
The 3D Printing Handbook by Hubs
Our founders literally ‘wrote the book’ on 3D printing.
Read article
3D printing vs. CNC machining
Learn the practical differences between CNC machining and 3D printing and how to select the right technology for manufacturing end-use parts and functional prototypes.
Read article
3D printing with PLA vs. ABS: What's the difference?
PLA and ABS are two essential materials for 3D printing with FDM. They are also two of the most popular materials on our platform. This comparison will help you choose which material to use for your 3D-printed custom parts.
Read article
Dimensional accuracy of 3D printed parts
This article presents the expected dimensional accuracy of parts produced via 3D printing and discusses why part inaccuracies occur.
Read article
Key design considerations for 3D printing
A list of things to keep in mind when designing a model for 3D printing - regardless of the technology that you will be printing with.
Read article
How to design snap-fit joints for 3D printing
This guide discusses the benefits of 3D printing snap-fits and gives design and material recommendations.
Read article
SLA 3D printing materials compared
Compare the main SLA 3D printing resins - standard, tough, durable, heat resistant, rubber-like, dental and castable - by material properties and find the best option for your application.
Read article
3D printing STL files: A step-by-step guide
Learn how to avoid low quality prints or unnecessarily large 3D files by exporting your STL file in the correct resolution.
Read article
Selecting the optimal shell and infill parameters for FDM 3D printing
Shell and infill properties impact the performance and cost of FDM 3D printing. Learn how to optimize these features for your 3D printed part
Read articleOur other manufacturing services
Put your 3D printed parts into production today
Get an instant 3D printing quote
×
![]()