Short answer: MJF prototypes typically ship in 3–5 working days, and batch production in 2–3 weeks. Dyeing or vapour polishing adds 1–2 days. Orders over £150 get free next-day UK delivery.
| Order | Typical lead time |
|---|---|
| Prototypes (1–10 parts, standard bead-blasted finish) | 3–5 working days |
| Add black dyeing or vapour polishing | +1–2 working days |
| Cerakote, painting or plating | Ask us; depends on the finish |
| Batch production (hundreds of parts) | 2–3 weeks |
| Repeat production and call-off orders | Agreed with you, including stock held for call-off |
| Urgent parts | Often possible, and at no extra cost for production customers |
| UK delivery | Free next-day delivery on orders over £150 |
Lead times are from order and approved files to dispatch. We will always confirm a date with your quote.
Why does it take days if the printer takes hours?
The print itself is relatively quick, and one HP Jet Fusion build can hold hundreds of parts at once. But printing is only one step in the process:
- File checks and build preparation: checking your files, then orienting and nesting your parts with others to fill the build efficiently.
- Printing: typically several hours to a day, depending on build height.
- Cooling: the build must cool slowly and evenly to keep parts accurate and flat. Rushing this causes warp.
- De-powdering and bead blasting: removing the loose powder and cleaning each part.
- Finishing: dyeing, vapour polishing or coating if specified.
- Inspection, packing and dispatch.
Why are parts cheaper on a longer lead time?
A longer lead time lets us balance our builds better. We aim to fill every build to the right packing density, and having more parts to choose from helps. For example, a batch of light drone parts can be balanced with denser parts waiting to print. That efficiency is passed on to you as a lower price. If you are not in a hurry, tell us.
What can make a lead time longer?
- Files that need fixing (see which file format to send)
- Very large parts that take up a full build height
- Multi-step finishes, such as dye then Cerakote
- Large batches needing several builds, or first-article approval before production
Need parts urgently?
Talk to us. We can often fit urgent parts into a build that is already being prepared, and for our production customers this does not cost extra. For regular production, call-off orders with stock held at Incremental-AM mean parts are ready when you need them. See 3D printing for batch production.