OmniTechs · 3D printing from Groningen
3D printing for your study project, with 50% student discount
Need a prototype, a scale model, a part or a 3D model for your course? OmniTechs is a 3D printing service for students, run from a workshop in Groningen. If you study at a university, university of applied sciences or MBO institution in Groningen, Friesland or Drenthe, you get 50% off the final quote price for your custom 3D work. Where you live does not matter. PhD candidates and exchange students qualify too. Just mention in your request that it is a student or school project. That is all.
In short
- Discount: 50% off the final quote price.
- Covers: printing, parts, models, prototypes and 3D design.
- Does not cover: websites, automation or other OmniTechs services.
- Who: you study at a university, university of applied sciences or MBO institution in Groningen, Friesland or Drenthe; where you live does not matter. Including PhD candidates and exchange students.
- How to get it: say in your request that it is a student or school project.
- Combining: not with the volume discount (bulk discount), but it does combine with pickup by appointment or with free delivery in the municipality of Groningen (temporary offer).
- Valid until: 31 August 2027.
- Good to know: the online price estimate shows the price before the discount.
What projects qualify?
Custom 3D work on a quote for your studies or school. For example:
- A prototype for your project or thesis. A first physical version to test shape, size or fit.
- A scale model. For architecture, urban planning, design or a presentation. See the scale model section below.
- Parts for a build. An enclosure, bracket, gear or mount for a robot, test rig or hackathon project. If you need an existing part reproduced, see 3D printed parts.
- A 3D model from your sketch. If all you have is an idea, a drawing or some dimensions, we can build the model. More on the 3D modelling service.
- 3D design. Adjusting, repairing or preparing an existing model for printing.
Who qualifies?
The student discount applies if you study at a university, university of applied sciences or MBO institution in Groningen, Friesland or Drenthe; where you live does not matter. That means:
- university (WO) students
- university of applied sciences (HBO) students
- MBO students
- PhD candidates
- exchange students
You do not need to send anything. Say in your request that it is a student or school project, and we include the discount in your quote.
What the 50% covers, and what it doesn't
Covered: printing, parts, models, prototypes and 3D design. The discount is 50% off the final quote price: the amount on your quote once your file or idea has been reviewed. As a private customer you see prices including VAT.
Not covered:
- websites, automation and other OmniTechs services
- combining with the volume (bulk) discount. That is the discount for larger print quantities (5% from 50 and 10% from 150 pieces). The two do not add up; your quote shows which discount has been applied.
The discount applies to custom work on a quote, not to fixed-price products such as keychains, review stands and catalogue prints.
Can be combined with: your 50% discount does combine with pickup by appointment or with free delivery in the municipality of Groningen (temporary offer).
Valid until 31 August 2027.
How it works
Send your request.
Add your file on the 3D printing service page, or send a sketch, photos or a description through the request form. Mention that it is a student or school project, and give your deadline.
Price before the discount.
The online price estimate does not know you are a student, so it shows the price before the discount. The 50% comes off the final quote price.
Free first review.
The first review of your request is free, even without a 3D file or STL. You hear what is feasible and what work it needs.
Quote with the discount.
Your quote shows the 50% student discount. Your request becomes an order once application, price and schedule are agreed.
Pickup or shipping.
Pickup by appointment, or shipping by DHL or PostNL. Also free delivery in the municipality of Groningen (temporary offer). Your student discount stays in place.
Campus makerspace or OmniTechs?
To be fair: if you want to learn to print yourself, have access and have the time, a makerspace is a great option. There are several in the north, for example:
- the Hanze Makerspace, for Hanze students and staff
- the NHL Stenden 3D printing lab in Leeuwarden and Emmen, where staff print your files
- the Smartlab at Forum Groningen, with open 3D printing sessions
- FabLab Groningen
- the Academie Minerva workshops, for Minerva students
See their own websites for current conditions and opening hours.
OmniTechs is for when you would rather have it done for you:
- you want someone else to print and finish it
- you need help with design or modelling
- the job is larger or more involved, has several parts, or needs a finished result
- you have no workshop access, or its schedule does not fit your deadline
We print in plastic. We do not print in metal or resin. If you need resin detail, a lab with a resin printer may suit you better.
Scale models
A scale model is not simply your on-screen model made smaller. When you scale down, walls, window frames and details quickly become too thin to print. So please send:
- the scale (for example 1:100 or 1:200)
- the outer size you want
- which parts really must stay visible
- your file, or drawings if you do not have a 3D model yet
How to prepare the file is explained in prepare an architectural model for 3D printing and scale models without losing details.
Deadlines
Always put your deadline in the request, even if it feels far away. The target date is confirmed before the job starts. We promise no standard rush surcharge and no fixed lead time, but you will know in advance whether your date is realistic. The earlier you ask, the more room there is for a test print or a change.
Pickup in Groningen is by appointment. We ship with DHL or PostNL, so if you study in Leeuwarden, Emmen or elsewhere in the three provinces, it can simply come by post.
Files and materials
- Files: STL, 3MF or OBJ. No file? A sketch, photos with dimensions or a description is a fine start.
- Material: plastic, such as PLA and PETG. See choose a 3D printing material.
- What drives the price: see 3D printing cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where can a student in Groningen, Friesland or Drenthe get something 3D printed?
At OmniTechs, a 3D printing workshop in Groningen. Students get 50% off the final quote price, and we ship with DHL or PostNL. If you want to print yourself, there are makerspaces such as the Hanze Makerspace, the Smartlab at Forum Groningen, FabLab Groningen and the NHL Stenden 3D printing lab.
Does the University of Groningen or Hanze have a makerspace students can use, and when is that the better option?
Hanze has the Hanze Makerspace for its students and staff. For the University of Groningen, please look at the university's own pages for current facilities; we would rather not give you outdated information. A makerspace is the better option when you have access, want to print yourself and have the time. Choose us when you want it done for you, need modelling help, or need larger or finished work.
Who qualifies for the 50% student discount?
Anyone who studies at a university, university of applied sciences or MBO institution in Groningen, Friesland or Drenthe; where you live does not matter. PhD candidates and exchange students qualify too.
What does the 50% cover, and what not?
Custom work on a quote: printing, parts, models, prototypes and 3D design. It does not cover websites, automation or other OmniTechs services.
How do I get the student discount?
Say in your request that it is a student or school project. Nothing else is needed.
Can I combine it with the volume discount?
No. The student discount cannot be combined with the volume (bulk) discount (5% from 50 and 10% from 150 pieces). Your quote shows which discount has been applied.
How long is the student discount valid?
Until 31 August 2027.
How much does a print or scale model for my project cost, and how is 50% taken off the quote price?
It depends on size, material, print time, finishing and any modelling work. The online estimate on the 3D printing service page gives a first indication, but shows the price before the discount. After the free first review you receive a quote, and 50% comes off the final quote price. The factors are explained on 3D printing cost.
Can you turn my sketch into a printable model for my thesis prototype?
Yes. Send your sketch, drawing or photos with the dimensions you have, and tell us what the model is for. Missing dimensions stay open questions rather than silent guesses. 3D design is covered by the 50% too. See the 3D modelling service.
Can I send my request in English?
Yes. You can send your request and ask your questions in English. Payment follows your quote, as with any order.
How fast can it be done before my deadline?
Put your deadline in the request. We confirm the date before the job starts and do not promise a fixed lead time we cannot keep. The earlier you ask, the more room there is.
Which files can I send?
STL, 3MF or OBJ. No file yet? Send a sketch, photos with dimensions or a description.
Can I pick up in Groningen or have it shipped elsewhere in the Netherlands, and do I keep my discount?
Yes. Pickup by appointment, or free delivery in the municipality of Groningen (temporary offer); both combine with the 50%. Shipping elsewhere in the Netherlands is by DHL or PostNL, also with your discount. Only the volume discount cannot be combined.
Working on a study project? Get it printed with 50% off.
Send your file, sketch or idea, mention that it is a student or school project, and give your deadline. The first review is free, and the 50% comes off the final quote price. Valid until 31 August 2027.