When you order a personalised product from Yorkshire3D, you receive a solid, colourful, perfectly shaped item in the post a few days later. But what actually happens between you clicking "order" and that item landing on your doormat? The answer involves some genuinely fascinating technology, and we think it's worth understanding.
Here's the full journey of a Yorkshire3D product, from digital design to your doorstep.
Step 1: The Digital Design
Every 3D printed product starts life as a digital file. Our designers use CAD (computer-aided design) software to create precise 3D models of each product. This is where the shape, dimensions, text placement, and fine details are all worked out.
For personalised items, the design stage includes creating templates that can be quickly adapted with each customer's chosen name, message, or date. We've built a library of hundreds of base designs that we can customise to order.
If you have a completely custom idea that doesn't fit any of our existing products, our design service can create a bespoke 3D model from scratch. Just send us a sketch, a photo, or even a description, and we'll turn it into a printable design.
Step 2: Slicing
Once the 3D model is finalised, it goes through a process called slicing. Specialist software takes the three-dimensional model and divides it into hundreds (sometimes thousands) of ultra-thin horizontal layers — typically between 0.1mm and 0.3mm thick.
The slicing software also calculates the print settings: how fast the printer head should move, what temperature the material needs to be heated to, where support structures are needed, and how dense the internal fill pattern should be. These settings are crucial for print quality, and our team has spent years dialling them in for each product type.
The output of slicing is a G-code file — essentially a set of instructions that tells the 3D printer exactly where to move and when to extrude material.
Step 3: Preparing the Printer
Before printing begins, the printer needs to be set up. This means loading the correct colour of PLA filament (we stock 38+ colours), ensuring the print bed is clean and level, and calibrating the nozzle height.
We run a fleet of FDM (fused deposition modelling) printers, which work by heating PLA filament to around 200 degrees Celsius and extruding it through a fine nozzle. The material is deposited layer by layer onto a heated build plate, where it cools and solidifies almost immediately.
Step 4: Printing Layer by Layer
This is where the magic happens. The printer follows the G-code instructions, building your product one thin layer at a time from the bottom up. The nozzle traces each layer's outline and fills it in, then moves up a fraction of a millimetre and starts the next layer.
Depending on the product, a single item might take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours to print. A small keychain is relatively quick; a large desk organiser takes considerably longer. Throughout the print, the machine monitors temperature and material flow to maintain consistent quality.
Watching a 3D printer work is oddly hypnotic. A solid, tangible object gradually emerges from what was, moments ago, a spool of plastic thread. It never gets old, even for us.
Step 5: Post-Processing
Once the print is complete, the product doesn't go straight into a box. First, it needs post-processing. This typically involves:
- Removing the product from the build plate: A careful process to avoid damaging the base.
- Removing support structures: Some designs require temporary supports during printing, which are snapped or cut away afterwards.
- Cleaning up edges: Any minor imperfections, strings, or rough edges are trimmed and smoothed.
- Surface finishing: Depending on the product, this might include light sanding or deburring to achieve a clean finish.
Step 6: Quality Check
Every single product goes through a quality check before it's cleared for dispatch. We inspect for:
- Dimensional accuracy — does it match the design specifications?
- Surface quality — are the layers smooth and consistent?
- Colour accuracy — does the print match the colour the customer ordered?
- Personalisation — is the name, message, or date correct and legible?
- Structural integrity — is the product solid with no weak spots or gaps?
If a product doesn't pass quality control, we reprint it. No exceptions. We'd rather take an extra day than send out something we're not proud of.
Step 7: Packaging
Packaging is straightforward but considered. We use recyclable cardboard and tissue paper to protect products during transit. Smaller items like keychains and bookmarks are packaged in compostable mailer bags, while larger or more fragile items go in cardboard boxes with cushioning.
We've deliberately avoided plastic packaging wherever possible. It would be contradictory to use eco-friendly PLA material and then wrap it in single-use plastic.
Step 8: Dispatch and Delivery
Most orders are dispatched within one to two working days of being placed. We use Royal Mail and tracked courier services for UK deliveries, with most parcels arriving within one to two days after dispatch.
For international orders, delivery typically takes five to ten working days depending on the destination. All orders include tracking so you can follow your parcel's journey from our workshop to your door.
The Technology Behind It All
FDM 3D printing has been around since the late 1980s, but the technology has advanced enormously in the past decade. Modern consumer and prosumer printers are faster, more accurate, and more reliable than ever. The layer resolution we achieve today would have been considered cutting-edge industrial quality just ten years ago.
At Yorkshire3D, we're constantly upgrading our equipment and refining our processes. We test new materials, experiment with print settings, and invest in the latest hardware to ensure every product we ship is the best it can possibly be.
Want to Know More?
If you're curious about our services, our materials, or how we can bring your custom idea to life, don't hesitate to get in touch. We love talking about 3D printing almost as much as we love doing it.
Browse our full product range to see what's possible, or visit our design service page to start a custom project.