Help
How customers get a quote
- Upload a model. Drop an .stl or .3mf file (up to 50 MB) on the shop's quote page. A 3D preview appears right away.
- Choose settings. Printer, material, color, layer height, infill, walls, supports and quantity. Each one has an i icon that explains it.
- Click "Get quote". The server slices the model with OrcaSlicer, usually in 10 to 60 seconds. You then see the price, print time, filament used and the full cost breakdown.
- Request the print. If the price works for you, click Request this print and leave your name, email and any notes. The shop sees the request in its dashboard and contacts you to confirm. You don't pay anything on this site.
What the estimate includes and doesn't include
Included
- Filament, from the slicer's weight plus a waste allowance (purge, skirt, failed starts) at the shop's price per kg.
- Machine time, from the slicer's time estimate at the shop's hourly rate.
- Electricity for the printer over that time.
- The shop's setup fee, either per build plate or per order, and its markup. If the total is below the shop's minimum order, the price is raised to the minimum.
Not included
- Multi-color prints. Quotes are for one color. Prints using an AMS or several colors need a custom quote from the shop.
- Post-processing. Sanding, painting, support removal on delicate parts, assembly, inserts and so on.
- Shipping and taxes. The shop will tell you these.
- Design or repair work. Models that aren't watertight may fail to slice. Repair them first or ask the shop.
How accurate is it?
Time and weight are OrcaSlicer's estimates from a real slice with Bambu Lab profiles. Weight is usually very close. Real print time can differ by roughly 5 to 15%, depending on the printer, firmware and model. The shop confirms the final price before it prints anything.
Setting up your shop
- Create a free account with your shop name and a short link name, for example
my-shop. - In the dashboard, open Pricing and set your setup fee, markup, minimum order, waste % and electricity price. Every setting has an info icon that explains it.
- Under Printers, turn on the printers you own and set an hourly machine rate for each. A common starting point is $0.50 to $2.00/hour, enough to cover wear, maintenance and the printer's cost over its life.
- Under Materials & colors, turn on what you stock, set the price per kg and enable the colors you have. Bambu's official colors are preloaded, and you can add your own.
- Under Customer options, set the min, default and max for infill, walls and quantity, and pick which layer heights and support types customers can choose.
- Click Save. New quotes use the new settings immediately.
Sharing your quote link
Your page lives at packmulehouseprints.com/s/<your-link-name>. The dashboard has a Share box with a copy button and a QR code you can download. Some places to use it:
- A "Get a quote" button on your website, Etsy shop or social profiles.
- The QR code on flyers, business cards or a sign at the counter.
- Embedding: a full embed widget is planned for the Farm plan. For now, you can embed the page with an iframe:
<iframe src="https://packmulehouseprints.com/s/your-link" style="width:100%;height:1100px;border:0"></iframe>
FAQ
Which printers are supported?
Bambu Lab A1, A1 mini, P1P, P1S and X1 Carbon, using official Bambu profiles. Each shop chooses which ones to offer. More printers can be added later.
What happens to uploaded files?
Uploaded models are deleted automatically about one hour after the last use. When a customer sends a print request, the shop gets the file name and the quote details, not the file. The shop will ask for the file when it confirms the order.
Why did my model fail to slice?
Usually because the mesh isn't watertight, the model is bigger than the printer's bed, or the material can't be printed on that printer. Try another printer, repair the mesh (Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer can fix most meshes), or contact the shop.
Why can a thicker layer height use more filament?
The official Bambu Lab profiles set the solid top and bottom skins by layer count with a minimum thickness. At 0.28 mm the top is about 4 × 0.28 = 1.12 mm and the bottom 3 × 0.28 = 0.84 mm solid, while at 0.12 mm both are about 0.6 mm. On flat, wide parts the skins are most of the plastic, so thicker layers can weigh more even though they print faster. This is expected and isn't a pricing error.
Why do small parts all cost the same?
Each shop sets a minimum order. If a job costs less than that to make, the price is raised to the minimum, and the quote says "Minimum order applied" with the real cost. Changing settings won't change the price until the job costs more than the minimum.
What does "Fill the bed" do?
It packs as many copies as fit on one build plate of the chosen printer, up to the shop's maximum quantity, then quotes that number. It's handy for small parts made in batches, and the price per unit is usually lower.
Can I pay or order on this site?
Not yet. "Request this print" sends your details and the quote to the shop, and the shop contacts you to confirm and arrange payment.
I forgot my shop password.
Password reset by email isn't available yet. Contact Pack Mule House Prints support from the email address you signed up with, and we'll reset your password by hand after checking it's you. A dedicated support address will be posted here soon.
Can a shop refuse a job?
Yes. Quotes are estimates, not binding offers. A shop can decline any request, for example weapons, files that infringe someone's rights, or anything it can't print safely. See the acceptable use rules.
How do I delete my shop?
Go to Dashboard → Account → Delete shop. This permanently removes your settings, quote history and print requests.