Frequently asked questions

What does Stourworks do?

Stourworks is my batch 3D printing business in Sudbury, Suffolk, making functional plastic parts in small batches for businesses: jigs and fixtures, brackets, enclosures, spacers, replacement parts and short production runs. Fit is checked and agreed on your sample before any batch is printed.

Which materials do you print in?

PLA, PETG, ASA and TPU. PETG is my everyday choice for tough, practical parts; PLA suits prototypes and indoor parts; ASA is best for parts that live outdoors or in sunlight; TPU is flexible, for things like gaskets, bumpers and grips. Not sure which you need? Tell me what the part does and I'll recommend one. I keep black and a range of other colours in stock, and other colours are available on request; ask me for a quote and lead time. Samples are printed in PLA or PETG in a stock colour (black and others available).

Can you print parts in more than one colour?

Yes, in PLA and PETG. Multi-colour PLA and PETG parts suit colour-coding, or a logo or text in a second colour. Pricing on quote: send me your file and tell me which areas should be which colour.

What file formats do you accept?

STL, 3MF or STEP only; I can't accept OBJ, zip or other file types. Please draw in millimetres and send one part per file where you can (assemblies are fine: I check each solid as its own part and confirm which parts you need).

• STEP: export as AP214 or AP242, as a solid body, in one self-contained file up to 10 MB. If a STEP file is larger or doesn't convert cleanly, I'll ask you for an STL instead.
• 3MF: I use the shape only; print settings, colours and supports saved in the file are ignored, and each object counts as a part.
• Colours, tolerances and GD&T in your files aren't used, so please state any fits or tolerances in your email or on a drawing.

How quickly will you reply?

I aim to reply within 2 working days of receiving your file. Working days are Monday to Friday, excluding UK bank holidays.

Do you offer free samples?

Yes, for businesses planning a batch at or above my minimum quantity. Before you order a batch, I'll print a free sample pack so you can check fit and finish. I offer 2 free sample packs a month, and it's one pack per business (I'll need your company name and a business email address), with up to 3 parts, up to 100 g of material and 4 hours of printing in total, in standard PETG or PLA in a stock colour (black and others available). The sample is free; you pay only the postage: tracked postage, including a 50p collection charge. I dispatch within 5 working days of approving your file, once the postage has been paid. Bigger or special samples, such as multi-colour, ASA or TPU, are quoted as a normal order.

How much does 3D printing cost?

Every job is quoted individually, because the price depends on the size of the part, the material and the print time. Quotes are free and there's no obligation, and each quote is valid for 30 days. The minimum order is £75, not including postage. Postage is tracked postage at cost, plus a 50p collection charge per parcel.

What if I don't have a CAD file?

Email me a sketch, drawing or photos with key dimensions, what the part needs to do and intended batch quantity. I'll review what you have and let you know whether I can help. Design work isn't included in the free print sample offer; any design scope and charge would be agreed separately before work starts. I'll need a suitable print file before confirming the printing price.

How do I reorder the same part?

Reply to your previous order email with the quantity, material and colour you need, and tell me whether the design has changed. I'll confirm the price and timing before you order. See ordering repeat batches.

Is there a minimum quantity?

Yes, per design, depending on size. Small parts (up to 60 mm on the longest side and up to 30 g): 50. Medium parts (up to 150 mm and up to 150 g): 10. Large parts (anything bigger, or over 150 g): 5. Need a larger part? Send me the dimensions and intended quantity and I'll review what's possible. If a part falls into two categories, the larger one applies. I confirm the size category on your quote.

Do you offer discounts for larger orders?

Yes. Discounts apply per design, per order:

• Small parts: 5% off at 100+, 10% at 250+, 15% at 500+
• Medium parts: 5% off at 25+, 10% at 50+, 15% at 100+
• Large parts: 5% off at 10+, 10% at 20+ and above

Need more than that? Just ask me for a quote and lead time.

How do you deliver, and do you deliver outside Suffolk?

I deliver UK-wide by tracked postage at cost, plus a 50p collection charge per parcel, and packaging is included. Delivery is usually 3–4 working days after dispatch, and you'll get a tracking link when your parts are posted. A signature on delivery or a faster service is available on request, also at cost. Collection in Sudbury can be arranged on request; I'll confirm the details by email.

How do I pay?

When you confirm an order, I send you an invoice. Batches are paid in full before printing starts, and my standard payment method is bank transfer. Quotes are valid for 30 days.

Do you charge VAT?

No. My prices are not subject to VAT: Stourworks is a sole trader and is not VAT registered, so there is no VAT to add.

Will you keep my design confidential?

Yes. I treat every file you send as your confidential intellectual property. I use it only to quote for and make your parts, and I never share it with anyone else, apart from the service providers I use to run the business, as listed in my privacy notice. I keep your files until you ask me to delete them, so repeat orders are quick and consistent. If your enquiry doesn't become an order, I keep it for 12 months and then delete it, unless you ask me to keep your files. If you haven't ordered for 2 years, I'll check whether you'd like me to keep them, and delete them if I don't hear back within 30 days. To have them deleted sooner, just email me and I'll confirm once it's done.

How accurate are your parts?

My parts are made for practical, functional use, and every batch is printed to the same settings as the sample you approved. I check fit on your free sample and agree it with you before printing a batch, so you can test the parts with their mating components first. If you have critical fits, mating parts or dimensions, please mention them in your email or on a drawing, and I'll take them into account when I check your file. I recommend walls at least 1.2 mm thick (1.6 mm for ASA and TPU).

Is there anything you don't make?

I focus on functional parts in PLA, PETG, ASA and TPU, so I don't take on toys or novelty items, or abrasive or speciality filaments. I also don't make weapon parts, medical devices, safety equipment (PPE), lifting or child-restraint parts, or vehicle brake and steering parts. Parts for food contact, high temperatures (above about 100 °C) or outdoor use, and branded or copyrighted designs, need to be agreed in writing first. Acrylic cutting and engraving, and label and sticker creation, are separate services: see acrylic cutting and engraving and other services. If I'm not the right fit, I'll say so and suggest a better process, such as resin printing, CNC machining or injection moulding.

Where are you, and how do I get in touch?

I'm based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Email is the best way to reach me at info@stourworks.co.uk. Collection in Sudbury can be arranged on request; I'll confirm the details by email.