3D printing for school and final-year projects

Where Makerlane is today

Makerlane is a 3D printing service in Singapore. As of 21 October 2026 you can see your print price at makerlane.sg, with no sign-up. Ordering opens soon. Sign up for the free beta. Invites go out in small batches.

How do I plan a 3D printed school project?

Work backwards from your deadline and put each step on a calendar. Start with the rules, then the school lab, then a small test piece, then the real print, with room for a second try. The sections below take these steps one at a time, then the design, the file and the price.

Can I use outside help, like a print service?

It depends on your school and course, so check first. Ask your teacher or supervisor whether outside printing counts as outside help on your course, and keep the answer. Ask before you pay anyone, not after. Makerlane prints the file you upload, so bring your own file.

If outside printing is allowed, say so in your report.

Should I try my school lab first?

Yes, it is worth asking. Ask your teacher or course team if your school has a lab or fab lab that prints. Ask whether it prints coursework, whether you need a booking or short training, how long a print takes, and which plastics and sizes it has.

If it cannot take your part, Makerlane is another way to get a print once ordering opens.

Why leave time for a second print?

Plan for a fix after the first print, because a hole can come out tight, a wall can be too thin or a part can come out the wrong size. Leave room for one more round of print, check and fix, so a first miss does not cost you your deadline.

Get the first print done early, not near the deadline. Keep your CAD file safe, because you will probably want to change a size or a gap after you see the real part.

What is a test strip, and why print one first?

A test strip is a small piece with the same joints, holes and thin parts as your project. Print it first in the same plastic and layer height, and check how the parts fit. Slight size differences are normal for 3D prints, so leave a gap where two parts meet.

Put a few gap sizes on the strip, from snug to loose, and keep the one that fits. Then use that gap in the real model.

How do I design my project so it prints?

Design within the checks. Makerlane's upload check warns you when a noticeable share of the surface is thinner than 0.8 mm. The check also tells you when overhangs need supports, counts floating parts and says if the model is too big for a space 256 mm wide, deep and tall.

Keep walls thicker than that, join floating parts to the model and split big parts into pieces that each fit. Cut big parts with flat faces, so each piece can lie flat on the printer, and plan how to join them with glue, screws or pegs.

If something will not print, you see why before you pay, with the fix. Makerlane's guide on whether your model will print covers the checks in more detail.

Which file and material should I use?

Export from your CAD software in millimetres, as an STL, a 3MF or an OBJ, up to 100 MB. Save each export under a new name, so you know which version you printed. PLA usually suits models and display pieces that stay cool. PETG usually copes better when a part gets knocked or warm.

Makerlane's guide on choosing between PLA and PETG goes into more detail.

Can I see the print price first, and get a receipt?

Yes, you see your print price before you commit. Upload your file at makerlane.sg to see it. Change the size or a setting and the print price updates. Every paid order has a PDF receipt, so you can show a teacher or a club what you spent.

The print price you lock never goes up. You see the handling fee and delivery before you pay, and nothing is added after you pay. Plan ready? See your print price in seconds at makerlane.sg.