Who Is Key3D?
Key3D is a Rapid Prototyping Service bureau that provides an online quote and custom fabricated parts from CAD files. We provide a competitive price so you can validate your CAD data in 3D.

What are Key3D's customers using their parts for?
Key3D serves a large number of customers in a variety of different industries including automotive, footwear, consumer products, consumer electronics, packaging and education. Parts are used as appearance prototypes for design review and a variety of secondary applications including patterns for casting applications, mock-ups for form and fit testing and prototypes to collect market feedback. In addition, Key3D parts can be drilled, tapped, sanded and painted, and electroplated to replicate the look and feel of the final product.

What is RP?
RP stands for Rapid Prototyping and refers to models made from CAD data generally encompassing all additive modeling techniques. The prototypes can be used for design review, mock-ups for form and fit testing and patterns for casting applications. The use of prototypes allows product developers to win new business, develop better products and improve production planning.

What is a Z Corp 3D Printer?
Z Corp 3D Printers set the standard for fast, affordable, color 3D printing. The printers create real physical models direction from CAD and other digital data.

How does the 3D Printing technology work?
Our printer uses a powder-binder technology to create parts directly from digital data. First, the 3D Printer spreads a thin layer of powder. Second, an ink-jet print head prints a binder in the cross-section of the part being created. Next, the build piston drops down, making room for the next layer, and the process is repeated. Once the part is finished, it is surrounded and supported by loose powder, which is then shaken loose from the finished part. The finished part is then impregnated with a hardening material (wax, hardener or resin) to increase its strength and impart different physical properties. Visit our things to know page for an overview of the entire process from making a computer model to receiving your prototype.

How big can you grow parts?
Our maximum build volume is 254 x 203x 203 mm or (10" x 8" x 8"). If your part does not fit into this volume it may be possible to build it in stages. Please contact us.

What's the difference between a part and a build?
A "part" is any individual object that is to be printed. A build can consist of a single part or multiple parts, providing they can all be fit into a 203 x 254x 203 mm (8" x 10" x 8") volume which is then all printed at one time on the printer. Multiple parts are often nested together into a single build to save time and money. The total part volume (or build volume) is the volume of all the parts in a single build and is required to find our how much material is consumed by the parts themselves. The build dimensions are the dimensions of the smallest box into which all the parts can fit and encompasses all parts and the space between them. The build dimensions are used to determine how large the print job is and how long it will take on the 3D printer.

How do you lay out parts in a build?
When a build consists of multiple parts, they are nested together to make the build volume as small as possible. No portion of one part is placed closer than 1mm to any other part to ensure that they will come out of the printer easily.

What is bleed correction?
Due to the nature of 3D Printing the outer surface bleeds slightly in some cases adding as much as 0.2mm thickness to the part. Bleed correction compensates for this effect. We suggest using bleed correction if you are dealing with mating components. However, on thin walled parts bleed correction may not be desirable as it will result in a more fragile component.

Are there limitations with your system?
Yes, we are limited in our choice of material and infiltrants. Our 3D printer can create any shape that fits in the specified build volume. Although we can build fine details we recommend a minimum wall thickness of 2mm or (0.08"). If you have a fragile model with thinner wall sections an additional handling fee may apply.

What if I have a unique request?
There are real people sitting behind the computers at Key3D so feel free to e-mail 24/7 or call during office hours - Pacific Standard Time. Contact us

What type of CAD data do you accept?
We only process STL files in our 3D Printer. However if you cannot create one we can create an STL file from almost any 3D CAD file; please contact us to provide you with a quote. To learn how to create an STL file Click Here.

What is an STL File?
The STL (*.stl) or stereolithography file format is an ASCII or binary file used in manufacturing. It is a list of the triangular surfaces that describe a computer generated solid model. This is the industry standard for most rapid prototyping machines; a binary STL file is required by Key3D to make a prototype.

How do I create STL File?
Visit this link to learn how to make an STL file.

What types of materials are available for infiltrating Key3D parts?
Once the part has been printed, it is about 50% porous and can be infiltrated to produce a range of material properties. Infiltrant options include wax, hardener and CA resins, depending on the desired part characteristics.

What material and impregnant should I use?
In general, starch is good for large and bulky models where fine detail is less important. Plaster provides better resolution and can be infiltrated with stronger materials. Wax is a good impregnant if you would like to carve your model afterwards. Starch/wax models can also be used to make moulds using the lost-wax process. Hardener-impregnated models provide significantly greater strength than wax-impregnated models. CA-impregnated models provide the greatest strength but may cause warpage in thin-walled models with delicate features. See the materials comparison table for a comparison of the properties of the different materials and impregnants.

Are the materials recyclable?
Yes, the unused powder is collected and reused.

How strong are the parts?
The parts can be given added strength and different material properties depending on the needs of the customer. When parts first come out of the printer, they can be handled carefully and examined. They have strength comparable to that of a shortbread cookie. For added strength and durability, the parts are impregnated with a variety of materials. Parts inmpregnated with wax are a bit stronger than a wax candle and parts impregnated with CA or hardener are about as strong as MDF (medium-density fibreboard).

What resolution can be achieved in the printed models?
Models made from starch are printed with 0.2mm (0.007") thick layers while models made from plaster are printed with 0.1mm (0.004") layers. Plaster models therefore provide better resolution with sharper detail. However, very small details - on the order of size of the print layers or smaller - will not be represented in the final model. Visit the gallery to get an idea of what type of parts and detail can be achieved with the process. Our materials page shows a good example of the difference in resolution that can be achieved when using either starch or plaster.

What tolerances can be achieved with the process?
It is impossible to hold tolerances tighter than the resolution of the process. At the same time, thin-walled parts can be prone to distortion, especially if they are impregnated with CA resin. Therefore it is not possible to guarantee dimensional tolerances. As a general rule, models that are more solid with thick walls and bulkier details will experience better dimensional accuracy than thin-walled models with delicate features. Visit the gallery to get an idea of what type of parts and detail can be achieved with the process.

Can I use the finished model in the place of a functional part?
In applications where the functional part is not expected to stand up to large stresses, you may be able to try the rapid prototype in a functional assembly. It is possible to machine, drill and tap the final models to fit your application. In general, however, the parts are not durable enough to stand up to repeated or long term use where large forces are applied.

Can I paint or finish my final model?
All models can be either sanded, carved or post-machined. Models impregnated with hardener or CA resin can be painted. Look at the the materials comparison table to see which processes can be applied to which types of models.

What is the standard delivery time?
Models are generally available within 48 hours of order placement.

How much does it cost?
You can get a quote 24/7 from Key3D's online quoting page, eliminating the time consuming process of issuing quotation requests, follow up and delayed responses. This allows you to optimize the use of RP in your design process. The part cost is calculated based on a combination of size, volume and materials.

What taxes do I need to pay?
International: depending on your country of origin you may be required to pay import duty.
USA: there are no duties on Rapid Prototypes.
Canada:  GST is applicable on all Canadian purchases.
                PST is applicable on purchases in BC except where the part(s) qualify as a prototype. See Bulletin sst 109
                If you are making a prototype please complete a Certificate of Exemption and fax it to us.
                604 357 1205

How do I pay for my parts?
Key3d uses PayPal to process payments. Please sign up for a PayPal Account in order to process your order. The payment will appear as PAYPAL *KEY3D on your statement.