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Frequently asked.
Honestly answered.

Getting Started

What does ExCom do?
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ExCom is a full-stack additive manufacturing facility in Houston, TX. We run six 3D printing technologies — FDM, SLA, SLS, resin, large-format, and multi-material — and every order is handled by in-house engineers from quoting through shipping.

We serve aerospace, architecture, film, retail, engineering, and product development clients across the US.

Do I need to know which technology I need?
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No. Our engineers will recommend the right process based on your part geometry, material requirements, and budget. If you select “Recommend for me” in the quote wizard, an engineer will review your file and come back with a recommendation and rationale.

What’s the minimum order?
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1 part. We print single prototypes as readily as production runs. Pricing is per-part — no setup fees, no minimum order value.

Do you do NDAs?
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Yes. We sign NDAs before reviewing any confidential design files. Our standard NDA is mutual and covers both parties. We can also review and sign your company’s form.

Quoting & Pricing

How fast do I get a quote?
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Most quotes come back within one business day. Complex assemblies or large production runs may take 2 business days. Rush quotes (same-day) are available for an additional fee.

How is pricing determined?
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Pricing factors in material cost, machine time, post-processing, and engineer review. Volume discounts apply at 50, 250, 1,000, and 10,000+ units. We’ll break it down per-unit in every quote.

Materials

How many materials do you stock?
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46 materials in-stock across all process families. We carry PLA through PA11-CF flight-qualified nylon, plus 12 resin families and specialty composites. If you need something not on the list, we can typically source it within a week.

What materials are flight-qualified?
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Our SLS PA11-CF (carbon-fiber reinforced nylon) is used in flight applications. We’re ITAR-registered for controlled programs. Contact us for full material certification documentation.

Tolerances

What’s the best tolerance you can hold?
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SLA and resin processes hold ±0.05mm on critical features. FDM is typically ±0.20mm. SLS runs ±0.10mm. Large-format is ±0.50mm. All tolerances measured on CMM.

File Requirements

What file formats do you accept?
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We accept STL, STEP, IGES, OBJ, and native SolidWorks/Fusion 360 files. STEP is preferred for multi-body assemblies. We’ll DFM-review every file before printing.

Lead Times

How fast can you turn a part?
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FDM and resin prototypes: 24–72 hours. SLA: 48–96 hours. SLS: 4–10 days. Large-format: 5–15 days. Production runs vary by quantity. Rush priority available on most technologies.

Shipping

Do you ship nationally?
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Yes. We ship via UPS, FedEx, and freight carriers nationally and internationally. Houston location means 2-day ground to 80% of US population. We also offer local pickup and same-day courier within the Houston metro.

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questions?

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