How to Order Custom Parts on Shapeways: A Buyer's Checklist for 2025

I'm an office administrator for a 12-person product development firm. I manage all custom-part ordering—roughly $50,000 annually across 8 vendors. One of those vendors is Shapeways, and this checklist is what I've learned from 60+ orders over the past four years.

If you need one-off parts or short runs, you don't want to be pushed to the back of the line. Here's the short version: it's a seven-step checklist. Follow it, and you'll avoid the dumb mistakes I've already made.

Before You Upload: The First Three Checks

1. Check your file format and units

This is boring, but it's the #1 cause of bad orders. For 3D printing, upload an STL or OBJ. For CNC machining, use STEP or IGES. And please check the units—millimeters vs inches. A 32 mm part vs a 32 inch part is a big difference, and the quote tool won't catch that. I had a $3,000 order come back completely wrong one time because the designer modeled in inches and I didn't catch the mismatch. (That was before Shapeways, but still.)

2. Use the instant quote to compare processes

One of the reasons I'm sticking with Shapeways is the Shapeways shop instant quote. You upload the same file and get pricing for 3D printing, CNC machining, laser cutting, injection molding, and sheet metal. That's huge. Instead of calling around, I can see that a 3D-printed nylon bracket is $12 each and the CNC aluminum version is $85. For a low-volume test, that comparison is gold.

In 2025, the Shapeways 3D printing service covers more materials than ever—nylon, resin, steel, even ceramic. But the quote tool is only as good as your file prep. Which brings me to step three.

3. Pick the material, then think about finish

This is where the common questions start. "Do 3D printers smell bad?" is one I see almost every month. Honest answer: it depends on the process.

Our office uses a lot of Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) nylon. Parts come back with no lingering odor at all. Resin printing (SLA) is different—you'll get that "new plastic" smell, especially right after printing. If you order from Shapeways with a glossy resin finish, give the part a day or two to air out. It's not a defect; it's un-cured resin residue doing its thing. FDM prints from other services can really smell like burnt old carpet, so if you're ordering for a client demo, choose MJF or stainless steel.

That's the kind of thing you want to sort out before the parts land on your CFO's desk.

The Execution Steps

4. Order a small batch first—no one will judge you

Here's the part I care most about. A lot of us worry that a $200 test order will get ignored. I've had that happen with local shops. When we needed custom parts for a beverage project (think low-carb drink packaging for a startup), I looked for CNC machining service Saint Paul MN just to keep shipping short. Three local shops didn't return my calls because we only needed 10 units. One said, "Call us when you need 500." That's the worst way to treat a new customer.

Shapeways didn't bat an eye at a 10-unit order. The quote was instant, the quality was consistent, and the local Saint Paul shop that ignored me? I don't need them anymore. Small doesn't mean unimportant. Today's $200 order is tomorrow's $20,000 repeat order—and I remember who took the small one seriously.

5. Read the design for manufacturing (DFM) feedback

This is the step that surprises most people. After you upload a design, the platform's engineers review it and send back automated (and sometimes human) notes about wall thickness, clearance, and draft angles. I almost skipped this once on a metal order. Good thing I didn't—they flagged a wall-thickness issue that would have caused a part to break under load. I fixed the file, re-ran the instant quote, and ordered. That saved a full production cycle.

So don't treat the DFM note like spam. Usually the fix is simple, and it's free.

6. Set up a business account, not your personal one

If you're buying for a company, create a dedicated Shapeways shop account. That gives you order history, invoices, and tracking numbers in one place. Our accounting team needs clean receipts; a personal email login doesn't cut it. This was a lesson I learned the hard way when a vendor's handwritten receipt got my expense report rejected—$2,400 out of pocket. Since then, I never do business purchases with a personal account.

7. Plan shipping with actual rates—don't guess

A part can be $10, but shipping might be $12. It's annoying when that happens. According to USPS pricing effective January 2025, a one-ounce First-Class letter costs $0.73, but that's for a paper envelope. A small 3D-printed part in a box starts around $4.50. Since Shapeways ships from multiple facilities, you'll see transit options at checkout. Don't assume "cheapest is fastest" either. For a recent client demo in Saint Paul, the smart move was standard shipping—it arrived in three days anyway.

Common Mistakes I've Made (so you don't have to)

Mistake #1: Comparing unit prices without comparing total cost. It's tempting to think the cheapest quote wins. But something with a lower unit price can have higher setup costs, or it may need more finishing. I now keep the full quote open (including shipping and tax) before I make the call.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the air-out period for resin parts. As I mentioned, resin smells for a day or two. If you're shipping directly to a customer—especially for something like a food or beverage display—factor in that curing time. Do not print, ship, and then wonder why the client smells acetone.

Mistake #3: Assuming "local" is always better. Yes, a local machine shop is great when you're close by and have a long-standing relationship. But for a one-off bracket or a test fixture, waiting for a local shop to schedule you into their queue can take two weeks. With Shapeways, I get a quote in minutes and the part arrives in about a week.

One more thing. A few people have asked me what "vmc drinks carbs" even means. If you're trying to machine a part for a low-carb drink system using a VMC—vertical machining center—then yes, CNC is the right route. Upload your file to Shapeways, pick CNC machining, and get an instant quote. That's a lot faster than Googling again.

That's the checklist. If you follow these seven steps, you'll get decent parts without the vendor drama. I didn't believe it either, but the first time a vendor treated my $200 order like it was a $20,000 one—that changed my mind.

Per FTC guidelines (ftc.gov), I should say the usual thing: I'm a customer, not an employee of Shapeways, and this is based on my own purchase history. But the opinions are mine, and they're pretty hard to shake.