Fathom offers seven different types of shipping services and prices ranging from a savers option to overnight delivery. Plus, if you happen to live close to Harland, WI, you can even choose to pick up your print straight from their facility. Their lead times differ depending on the technology you choose to print with, ranging anywhere from 2-3 days for Polyjet prints to 10 days DMLS. In our case, using FDM technology for our vase and the first available material, lead time for production is about 3-4 days normally. For rush orders, Fathom offers same day printing for PolyJet Technology, and next day printing for PolyJet and FDM with a selected choice of materials and colors. These both include added rush fees and a minimum order of $150.

Fathom promises its customers can have parts with certain characteristics manufactured within 24 hours, giving them extremely short lead times. The company offers instant quoting through a simple online user interface, although parts larger than 250 mm in any dimension require manual review. In addition to 3D printing services, Fathom offers extensive post-processing services for additive manufacturing, alongside part design, concept development, and quality assurance. Fathom provides a comprehensive package of additive manufacturing services — if you’re located in North America.

Sculpteo offers three delivery options, Economy, Standard, and Express, depending on what technology and material you choose. Economy takes about 15 days and can be used for PLA 12, SLS, and MJF technologies. Standard runs faster, with a lead time of between 2-15 days for all the materials they offer, depending on which one you choose. They also offer an Express option of 2 days if you are using PA 12 SLS, or prototyping with resin SLA.

Unfortunately, because we chose to print our bubble vase using PLA, we can’t to make use of Sculpteo’s Express 2 day service. However, if you need to print your gift in a rush, you could select PA 12 as a material and order it by December 22nd, and it would arrive in time for Christmas.

Sculpteo (now a part of the BASF group) originated in France and has an additional manufacturing plant in San Francisco. The company has grown dramatically over the years to move from offering one-off rapid prototyping with 3D printing to now offering true contract manufacturing to mass-produce parts from 1 to 10,000 units at its ISO 9001 factory and numerous locations. Although they primarily focus on Europe and the U.S., Sculpteo does provide worldwide shipping.

Xometry offers rush services as fast as 2 business days for certain services – MJF, SLS, and FDM – if you choose their expedited service. This of course comes with a price – getting it one day faster added a hefty $1000 to our price tag. But even with their standard delivery option of 6 days, you still can get your gift delivered before Christmas if you act soon enough. And of course with a lot of printing services, ordering just one item will drive the price up considerably, as ordering in bulk is what they are more geared to.

Xometry has become one of the world’s largest online 3D printing services, using a nationwide network of manufacturing partners. Similar to Craftcloud, you can compare project quotes on Xometry’s Instant Quoting Engine to find the right material and techology for your needs.