The minimum is a 3D model. STEP and IGES are the most reliable formats to send, because both are neutral and preserve solid geometry. Native CAD files can usually be read as well. An STL is workable for a rough opinion but is a mesh rather than a solid, so it is not a good basis for tooling.
To move from a provisional response to a firm quotation, four more things matter:
- A 2D drawing marking which dimensions are critical and what tolerance applies to each. Without it, every dimension is treated as equally important, which is both slower and more expensive.
- Resin and grade, or a description of the application if you want a recommendation. Shrinkage differs by resin, and the steel is cut to a shrink allowance for the specific material.
- Colour and finish — a colour target, and whether surfaces are polished, textured, or unspecified.
- Annual volume, which drives cavitation and therefore the tooling quote.
It also helps to say which faces are visible in the finished assembly, and whether the part will be printed, welded, or assembled afterwards. Those constraints change where a gate, a parting line, or an ejector pin can be placed.
Send your files and we will respond within one business day.