Six ways to get a custom object made, compared

The six routes side by side

The table doesn't rank the routes: they answer different needs. How long CAD takes to learn and what a designer charges vary too much from person to person to put a number on.

Learning CAD: the most control, the most time

Tinkercad combines simple shapes in the browser, which is enough for a first bracket or box. FreeCAD and OpenSCAD are free and open source; OpenSCAD describes the object in code, so every dimension is a variable. Fusion and Onshape are professional tools, and Onshape runs in the browser. You control every dimension, but you also have to learn the printing rules: wall thickness, clearances between parts, overhangs.

A designer or a design office: a professional for a part that matters

A freelance designer or a design office draws the part from your brief and can take responsibility for compliance if the contract says so. It's the route for a certified part, a product meant for series production, or a demanding mechanical constraint. You then still need to get the file printed.

An existing model: fast if the object already exists

Printables, Thingiverse, MakerWorld and Cults hold millions of free and paid models. If your object is there, in the right size, it's the fastest route. Read the licence: many models forbid commercial use or modification. To adapt one, you can have objekto's AI edit it.

Generating a mesh with AI: shapes, not dimensions

Meshy and Tripo turn a text prompt or an image into a textured 3D mesh. That's great for a figurine or a sculpture, and a poor fit for a part that has to interlock, screw together or replace a broken piece, because a mesh has no exact dimensions. You still have to check that it prints and get it printed. The Meshy comparison explains the difference with parametric CAD.

A print service: the direct route when you have a file

Sculpteo, Craftcloud and Xometry print the file you send and check that it can be made. Craftcloud compares prices across many workshops; Xometry also does machining and sheet metal. They all assume the file exists. The list of online 3D printing services in France says which one fits which need.

Describing the object: objekto designs it and has it made

objekto starts from a description, a photo, a sketch or a 3D file. Its AI designs the object part by part in parametric CAD, checks printability (walls, details, clearances, size per material, interference) and provides an exploded view and an assembly guide. You adjust dimensions with free sliders and see the delivered price; then Craftcloud or 3DAPI (picked for each order) makes the object, usually delivered in France within 1 to 3 weeks (an estimate). See how it works and pricing; 4,300 credits free at signup.

Generation time, measured on real jobs over the last 45 days (median, then the usual range, queue included): S 13 min (6–33), M 30 min (20–48), L 59 min (36–68), XL 81 min (60–113), by size (S = 1 part to XL = the most parts). Slider changes take a few seconds; the time left is shown during the generation.

When objekto isn't the right choice

• You already have a print-ready file: send it straight to a print service.
• You want a file to print at home without a subscription: print files come with paid plans only; a CAD tool or a model library suits you better.
• You need delivery outside the area served: objekto delivers in France.
• You need a certified part (medical device, certified food contact, guaranteed load rating): objekto doesn't make them.
• The object has more than 12 unique parts, the limit of the highest plan (4 without a subscription, 8 on Creator, 12 on Pro, 12 on Studio).
• You need it in less than a week: manufacturing and delivery usually take 1 to 3 weeks.

Frequently asked questions