Hi all,
I have been 3D printing for the past 3 years and I will open up my hub soon. I’m wondering though for those of you who offer shipping, how do you handle packaging the print? Do you let the carrier do the packaging or you package them yourself? What options do we have?
Thanks for the help!
2 Likes
What I do is buy envelopes like this, you have almost every size. Also, for small pieces I have these little plastic sleeves which are really useful, so I keep them there and then into the envelope. For larger pieces I don’t have a standard, just the first suitable box I find.
For pickup pieces I bought like 50 brown kraft bags. I’m planning to print some stickers and customize them, but not yet. Hope it was useful!
Great, thanks for the help!
I’m wondering if you use those “air filled” bubbles to protect the print (especially small fragile ones).
These envelopes already have bubble plastic on the walls, so I don’t have to worry
id never send a non flexible print in an envelope. I bought an assortment of boxes from uline and large roll of bubblewrap. I then use stamps.com to print postage and then drop off at post office.
I also save boxes and packing materials from other items I order online. Do not buy the pratt brand boxes from amazon. They are junk and the lids do not fold well. Tape also does not stick as well.
7 Likes
SOC3D
May 19, 2016, 2:02pm
6
I ship about 80% of my orders in filament boxes. I package and pad them in filament plastic bags. For larger orders I bring them to the local pakmail mailing center and let them handle everything. For smaller prints yellow bubble envelopes. I also use stamps.com to reduce postage costs. Those 1/2 page Avery labels fit just right on a filament box. Once in a while I build custom wood or metal part holders for small prints with delacate features. I then vacuum bag the whole thing so it cannot move around during shipping.
1 Like
Sra1
May 25, 2016, 4:58pm
7
A laser cutter will be my next packaging upgrade.
I always print with a skirt on (!) and so I’m planning to pull the gcode for the skirt and send it to the laser cutter, to cut an outline of the print into some cardboard sheets. This will give some good solid protection for the printed parts, custom shaped.
Repeat as necessary until sufficient height is reached.
i dont have one currently, so i have no idea whether it will be that easy of course.
should be good for those awkward shapes that dont fit in a padded envelope.
USPS.com flat rate packages, they give you the envelope and $50 insurance and tracking for the package. Can order supplies online, or go to local usps to get some free boxes. Yes it does cost more, but if your just starting, it’s nice and easy, just have to print a label out and take it on. Can save contact information for the next order too. I just like the ease of use and tracking is a nice thing for customer and seller/printer to confirm a package has arrived.
Thanks everyone for your feedback. Now I’m set on how to do my packing.
I ship out too many orders to use the filament boxes but I like to use Ziploc bags and with a marker I label the different parts according to the name of the file because sometimes when the order will have 19 small parts that almost looks like a puzzle. I take the parts to the nearest USPS and I got the smallest box possible and I just put peanuts or bubble wrap in there. Make sure to write on the center portion 3D hubs and then your hub name.
