What changes the plan for 3d-printing enquiries?
Print duration is not the same as saleable output. Include failed prints, post-processing and waiting work in your process brief; describe ventilation and materials to be assessed.
List printer power and material requirements and discuss ventilation before setup. Record the actual packed dimensions and any special requirements before using a generic unit-size comparison.
A practical idea for your workflow
Use a batch record that separates printing complete from post-processing complete. Keep rejected parts visible in a review zone so they do not enter the dispatched count.
Bring this workflow into the enquiry alongside your measurements. It is a proposed organising method you can adapt, not a service operated on your behalf by the storage team.
Make the work process explicit
Describe the actual processes, materials, equipment and number of people. Draw the occupied footprint separately from operating and service clearances. Show where unfinished work waits. Utilities, fit-out, dust, fumes, heat, noise, waste and any visitors require assessment for the intended activity. A planning-area result is not an installation approval.
Use the right planning inputs
Use the example below to understand the model, then replace the values with your own printers, material stock and unfinished print batches. The example is a method demonstration, not an industry benchmark, facility specification or price quotation.
In this version, the planner highlights average completed saleable parts/day and average print-to-dispatch lead time. All other fields retain their stated units and assumptions. The result can be added to an enquiry with the inputs attached, so the team can see what the number represents.
Read the complete mini factories guide for the core service terms and practical context.
ILLUSTRATIVE METHOD EXAMPLE
Production flow & staging-area planner
At 12 units/day and an average lead time of 2 days, average WIP is 24 units. With 0.15 m² occupied footprint per unit and two approved layers, WIP staging is 1.80 m². Machines of 4 m², operating zones of 3 m², raw materials of 2 m² and finished goods of 2 m² total 12.80 m² with WIP. A 20% circulation share gives 16 m² total.
Questions to settle before booking
- What materials, ventilation requirements and full production lead time apply?
- What are the actual packed dimensions, longest item and any relevant weight or handling requirements?
- Is the proposed use storage only, or does it include work, utilities, visitors or special materials?
- What rental period, retrieval frequency and collection vehicle will be involved?
The Beckedan facility has 9 m² and 18 m² standard unit footprints, with expansion considered on request. Confirm actual usable dimensions, access arrangements and suitability. The lane is grass, so discuss its current conditions before collection. Rent quotations exclude VAT; utility connections and fit-out are at client expense under agreed terms.
Questions about this use
What materials, ventilation requirements and full production lead time apply?
Include the relevant details in the enquiry before treating the space as suitable. The team must assess the actual goods, activity and arrangements; this page does not pre-approve them.
How do I use this plan to request a quote?
Replace the example inputs, calculate the result and choose “Add plan to an enquiry”. The next screen prepares a draft. It does not reserve space or send the enquiry automatically.
Does a calculated result guarantee suitability?
No. The WIP relationship is the established Little’s Law applied to consistent averages in a stable process, not an invented law or a peak-load guarantee. Our original contribution is connecting that average WIP to an explicit staging-area budget. Use the same process boundary and time units. Occupied footprint includes packaging and non-circulation separation; layers must be feasible. Use measured peak WIP separately for variable processes. Do not count the same inventory in both WIP and finished goods.