You click “Add to Cart.” You complete checkout. A confirmation email arrives. Then what? For most online stores, your order disappears into an opaque fulfillment process and reappears days later on your doorstep. Here at 3DCentral, we think you deserve to know exactly what happens in between.
Every collectible we sell is manufactured on demand in our Laval, Quebec facility. There is no warehouse stacked with pre-made inventory. When you place your order, your item is printed specifically for you. Here is the complete journey from your cart to your collection.
Step 1: Order Receipt and Production Queue
Your order enters our production management system within minutes of purchase. The system does not simply add your job to the end of a list. It evaluates multiple factors to route your order to the right printer at the right time.
Intelligent Job Routing
Our queue algorithm considers:
- Model type — detailed figurines from artists like Cinderwing3D or McGybeer route to precision printers with fine nozzle configurations. Larger display pieces route to machines optimized for speed on bulkier geometries.
- Material and color — your order is matched to printers already loaded with the correct filament color. This avoids unnecessary changeovers that waste time and material.
- Current fleet status — the system knows which of our 200+ printers are available, which are mid-job, and which are in maintenance. Your order routes to the earliest available compatible machine.
- Batch optimization — if other customers ordered the same product in the same color, those jobs are grouped into a batch that runs across multiple printers simultaneously.
Most orders begin printing within hours of placement. During peak seasons like the holidays, queue times may extend, but our fleet size provides significant capacity headroom. We detail our holiday production approach in our article on how our print farm handles holiday production volume.
Step 2: Printing Your Collectible
Once your job reaches the front of the queue and a compatible printer is available, production begins.
The Printing Process
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printing builds objects layer by layer from the bottom up. A spool of thermoplastic filament — primarily premium PLA in our case — feeds through a heated nozzle that melts the material and deposits it precisely according to the digital design file. Each layer fuses to the one below it, gradually building the complete three-dimensional object.
Print times vary significantly depending on the item:
- Small figurines (under 10cm) — 1 to 3 hours
- Medium collectibles (10-20cm) — 3 to 8 hours
- Large display pieces (20cm+) — 8 to 16 hours
- Multi-part kits — individual components may print simultaneously on different machines
Throughout the entire print, the machine monitors temperature, material flow, and layer positioning. Our networked monitoring system tracks every active job across the fleet, alerting technicians if any printer reports an anomaly.
Materials
We use premium PLA filament for the majority of our catalog. PLA is a plant-based bioplastic derived from corn starch that produces excellent detail, vibrant colors, and a smooth surface finish. It is the ideal material for decorative collectibles and display pieces.
For items requiring extra durability — outdoor garden decorations, functional fidget toys, or models that need to withstand repeated handling — we use PETG. This material offers greater impact resistance and temperature tolerance while still producing good surface quality.
Both materials are stored under controlled humidity conditions in our facility. Moisture-contaminated filament produces visible defects, so we take storage seriously. More detail on our material evaluation process is in our post about how we test new filament brands.
Step 3: Post-Processing
A print fresh off the build plate is not ready to ship. Every item goes through post-processing to remove printing artifacts and prepare it for packaging.
Support Removal
Many collectible designs require support structures during printing. Supports are temporary scaffolding that holds up overhangs, bridges, and complex geometries while the print builds up from below. Once the print is complete, these supports need to be carefully removed.
Our post-processing team uses custom fixtures and specialized tools for support removal. This is particularly critical for articulated models from artists like Flexi Factory and Twisty Prints, where moving joints must be carefully freed without damaging the surrounding structure. An articulated duck with a dozen segments needs each joint cleanly separated to flex properly.
Surface Cleanup
After support removal, technicians clean any remaining surface artifacts. Witness marks from supports are smoothed. Any minor stringing (thin filament wisps) is cleaned. Edges are deburred. The goal is a finished product that looks intentionally manufactured, not a raw print with visible production traces.
Step 4: Quality Inspection
No item ships without passing our three-stage quality inspection. This is the gate between production and packaging, and it does not open for items that do not meet our standards.
The Three Stages
- Visual inspection — trained inspectors examine every surface for layer shifts, warping, blobs, color inconsistencies, and surface defects. Items are compared against approved reference samples.
- Dimensional verification — random samples from each batch are measured with digital calipers at key reference points to confirm the print matches its design specifications within tolerance.
- Functional testing — articulated pieces are exercised through their full range of motion. Multi-part sets are test-assembled for proper fit. Display pieces are checked for stable, level placement.
Our full quality control process is detailed in our article on how we ensure every print is perfect. Items that fail any stage are rejected, logged for root cause analysis, and recycled. Our first-pass quality rate exceeds 97%.
Step 5: Packaging for Safe Transit
A perfect print that arrives damaged is a failure. Our packaging system is designed specifically for 3D printed collectibles, which have different fragility characteristics than injection-molded plastic goods.
How We Package
Each collectible receives protection matched to its size, weight, and fragile points:
- Small figurines — tissue-wrapped cushioning inside fitted boxes that prevent movement during transit
- Medium collectibles — protective wrapping with structured inserts that cradle the item
- Large display pieces — custom-cut foam or molded inserts that immobilize the piece within the shipping box
- Articulated models — positioned to prevent stress on joints and hinges during shipping. Joints that flex during transit can wear or break, so positioning matters.
- Multi-item orders — individual items are wrapped separately, then packed together with dividers to prevent contact damage
Every package is sized appropriately. An oversized box with too much empty space allows the product to shift and collide with box walls. An undersized box compresses protective padding until it cannot absorb impact. Getting box sizing right is a small detail with outsized impact on arrival condition.
Our complete packaging methodology is described in our post on shipping 3D prints safely.
Step 6: Shipping from Quebec
Packages ship from our Laval, Quebec facility via Canada Post and courier services. Once your package is scanned and picked up, tracking information is emailed to you, typically within hours of shipment.
Delivery Timelines
- Canadian orders — 2 to 5 business days for standard shipping
- US orders — 5 to 10 business days, with customs clearance adding variability
- International orders — timelines vary by destination; customs and import duties are the buyer’s responsibility
All shipping rates are calculated at checkout based on package weight and destination. We do not inflate product prices to subsidize “free” shipping. You see exactly what the carrier charges. Our products are also available on Amazon.ca for customers who prefer Amazon’s fulfillment network.
Step 7: In Your Hands
When your package arrives, you are holding an item that was designed digitally, printed layer by layer in our Quebec facility, inspected by hand, and packed specifically for safe delivery. It was not mass-produced overseas and shipped across an ocean. It was made here, by our team, for you.
If anything about your order does not meet your expectations, our customer service team handles it directly. Our approach to returns and quality issues is described in our post on how we handle customer returns.
For Print Farm Operators
If you run your own 3D printing operation, you can skip the design phase entirely. Our Commercial License gives you unlimited rights to print and sell every model in our catalog. Each design comes with production-validated print profiles developed through thousands of prints across our 200+ machine fleet. You get market-tested products ready for your own production workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for 3DCentral to ship my order?
Most orders begin printing within hours and ship within 1-3 business days. Canadian delivery typically takes 2-5 business days after shipment. US orders arrive in 5-10 business days. During peak holiday season, production and shipping times may be slightly longer.
Are 3DCentral products made to order?
Yes. Every collectible is printed on demand when you place your order. There is no pre-made warehouse inventory. Your item is manufactured specifically for you in our Laval, Quebec facility, inspected by hand, and shipped directly.
What material are 3DCentral collectibles made from?
Most items are printed in premium PLA, a plant-based bioplastic that produces vibrant colors and fine detail. Items requiring extra durability use PETG. Both materials are stored under controlled humidity conditions in our facility to ensure consistent quality.
Can I track my 3DCentral order?
Yes. Tracking information is emailed to you once your package is picked up by the carrier, typically within hours of shipment. You can track delivery progress through the carrier’s website using the provided tracking number.
What if my order arrives damaged?
Contact our customer service team and we will make it right. Despite our careful packaging process, transit damage occasionally occurs. We stand behind every product and will work with you to resolve any delivery issues promptly.
