Students · 2026
3D printing for students: models and final projects
How do I 3D print the model for my final project?
Export the model to STL or OBJ in millimetres, check that walls and details are thick enough at the model's scale (at 1:500, a 20 cm wall is 0.4 mm and won't print) and post the project with your deadline. Buildings and terrain are printed in FDM, in parts if large, and fine details in resin. A medium FDM part costs €7–€19, excluding VAT and shipping; a large model is quoted by size. Order early: offers arrive within 24–48 hours, but a model in parts takes days of machine time.
What students print
Architecture models
The building, the urban block or the section, with terrain and context. For a project submission, dissertation or final year project.
Product prototypes
Industrial design and engineering: the housing, the mechanism or the part you need to show working.
Rapid prototypingParts for an engineering project
Mounts, electronics enclosures, gears or adapters for a test rig.
3D printed gears and mechanical partsFine art and sculpture
A sculpture, a relief or a piece for an installation, in resin or in parts if it's large.
Large figures printed in parts
Model scales: how big things come out
Calculated sizes: a 3 m storey, a 30 m building (about ten storeys) and a 20 cm wall.
| Scale | 3 m storey | 30 m building | 20 cm wall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:50 | 6 cm | 60 cm | 4 mm |
| 1:100 | 3 cm | 30 cm | 2 mm |
| 1:200 | 1.5 cm | 15 cm | 1 mm |
| 1:500 | 6 mm | 6 cm | 0.4 mm |
Below 1 mm, a wall or a railing breaks or doesn't print. At small scales, thicken thin elements in the model or simplify them: that's normal for presentation models.
How to prepare the file
Format and units
Export to STL, OBJ or 3MF in millimetres. Most modelling and CAD programs do it directly (Rhino, Fusion, SolidWorks, Blender…); some architecture programs need a plug-in. State the scale in the project: STL files carry no units.
A closed model
To print, the model has to be a closed volume, with no loose faces or holes. If it comes from an architecture program it often needs repairing: a maker can do it, quoted separately.
In parts
A large model is split into parts that fit the printer: the terrain, each building, floors separately if you want to lift the roof. Say so in the project or let the maker propose the split.
Reference prices
Fabrishare calculator estimates, excluding VAT and shipping. Each maker sets their own price in their offer.
| Item | Technology | Guide price | Machine time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small part (about 3 × 3 × 2 cm) | FDM | €6 – €17 | — |
| Medium part (about 6 × 6 × 4 cm) | FDM | €7 – €19 | about 2 hours |
| 20 cm detail piece | Resin | €21 – €55 | about 4 hours |
| Full model in parts | FDM and resin | Each maker quotes | Hours to days |
What saves most: arriving with a ready, closed file, printing in white or grey (unpainted) and putting all the parts in one project.
When the deadline is close
- 1
Post with the date
Put your deadline in the project: makers propose a lead time based on their queue.
- 2
Leave time to redo
If a part fails or you want to change something, you need days. For a large model, order two or three weeks ahead.
- 3
Collect in person
If time is tight, a nearby maker can hand it over in person and you save on shipping.
Related guides
Print an STL
How to get a file you already have printed.
Print my STLNo file
If you only have drawings or sketches.
No STL file?How long it takes
Real machine times by technology.
How long does 3D printing take?Dioramas and models
Scale scenes, terrain and buildings.
3D printed dioramas
How to get your project printed on Fabrishare
- 1Upload the file to the calculator to see a guide price instantly.
- 2Post the project for free with the scale, colour and deadline.
- 3Get offers from makers within 24–48 hours and choose by price, lead time or distance.
FAQ about 3D printing for students
What scale should I use for my final project model?
It depends on what you're showing: 1:50 or 1:100 for a detailed building, 1:200 or 1:500 for an urban block. At small scales, thicken thin elements: below 1 mm they don't print well.
How much does it cost to print a model?
A medium FDM part, €7–€19, excluding VAT and shipping. A full model depends on size and parts: post it and each maker will quote.
How far ahead should I order?
Two or three weeks for a large model. Offers arrive within 24–48 hours, but printing in parts and leaving time to redo something takes days.
Which file format should I send?
STL, OBJ or 3MF in millimetres, with a closed model. State the scale in the project.
Can it be in colour?
Yes: filament comes in many colours and the model can be painted. Presentations usually use white or grey, which is cheapest.
Can it be handed over in person?
If you choose a nearby maker, often yes, saving shipping and a day.