1. Your file arrives and is stored privately
When you submit through the STL submission form, your file is uploaded to private storage that is not publicly accessible and not indexed anywhere. Only Helix Polymer Systems can open it.
Along with the file we capture the details you provided: quantity, dimensions, intended use, deadline, and any notes. Those details matter more than most people expect — they are what turn a shape into a manufacturable part.
2. The design gets reviewed before anything is quoted
Every submission is reviewed individually. We are looking at whether the geometry prints cleanly, how the part should be oriented, where supports would land, whether wall thicknesses and small features will survive the process, and whether the intended use suggests a different material or approach.
This is also where we tell you plainly if additive manufacturing is not the right way to make your part. We would rather say that up front than produce something that will not do the job.
3. Materials and finishing are matched to the job
Material selection depends on the part and how it will be used. A cosmetic display model, a functional bracket, and a fixture that will see heat or repeated load are three different problems.
That is why the form asks about intended use. If you did not include it, this is usually the point where we come back with a question rather than guess.
4. You receive a quote with production details
Once the review is complete, we send pricing along with the production details behind it. Quotes are not automated, because part size, geometry, material, print time, quantity, and finishing all move the number.
You will also get a realistic timeline based on complexity, quantity, and our current production schedule — not an optimistic placeholder.
5. You approve, and production starts
Nothing goes to a printer until you approve the quote. After approval, the part is produced and prepared for pickup or shipping, with delivery arrangements confirmed per project.
What you can do to speed this up
- Include the intended use, even in one sentence.
- State the quantity you actually need, including whether repeats are likely.
- Give real dimensions or a known reference measurement.
- Mention your deadline, even if it is flexible.
- Confirm you have the right to reproduce the design — we ask for this on every STL submission.