Frequently asked questions

Go to our instant 3D print quote page and upload one or more STL files (millimeter units, up to 50 MB each, up to 8 parts). Preview each part in 3D, then choose material, color, layer height, infill, and quantity. You will see a combined FDM price with USPS Flat Rate shipping. After we approve the quote, pay through Stripe — the same card checkout as the shop. See the full 3D printing service page for materials and capabilities.

PLA (prototypes and fixtures), PETG (tougher functional parts), ABS (heat-resistant — enclosed chamber), TPU (flexible gaskets and soft parts), and PLA-CF (carbon-filled stiffness). All materials are selectable during the instant quote process.

Up to 300 × 300 × 300 mm (about 11.8 inches cubed) on our K1 Max. Everyday parts print on four K1 SEs (220 × 220 × 250 mm) or a K2 SE (220 × 215 × 245 mm). ABS and heat-sensitive parts use the enclosed K1 SE and K1 Max. The quote tool rejects STLs that do not fit those beds.

You do. Payment is for machine time, material, packaging, and shipping — not for the model. You must have the legal right to print the files. Helios does not claim your copyright and is not liable if you upload files you are not allowed to manufacture. See Terms §5.

Yes. Every instant quote includes a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate shipping estimate based on your part size. We ship to the contiguous United States — typical delivery is 2–3 business days after production.

The M.A.R.S. Kit is designed for desktop 3-axis CNC mills with GRBL-compatible controllers. The kit includes HeliosForged for guided probing and operation streaming. See our desktop CNC compatibility guide for details, or contact us with your machine model.

Yes. HeliosForged comes with the M.A.R.S. Kit and is also sold separately. After payment for the kit, the license key and installer stay on your account Downloads page. Software-only buyers can purchase HeliosForged on its own.

Yes. The Coast Runner CR-1 runs grblCR — a GRBL fork — over USB serial. HeliosForged connects to any GRBL-compatible controller for jogging, probing, WCS management, and streamed G-code execution. You can use HeliosForged alongside or instead of CRWrite for shop-floor control.

Any desktop CNC with a GRBL-compatible controller over USB serial, including most open-source GRBL routers and mills. Contact us with your machine model if you need compatibility confirmation before ordering.

Use the CNC RFQ form to upload a STEP, STL, or Fusion archive with material, quantity, and tolerance notes. We review files in the shop and reply within one business day. Desktop mill compatibility is covered in the desktop CNC guide.

Browse the shop, add items to your cart, and pay by card. Hardware typically ships from Williamsburg in 2–4 business days after payment. Signed-in orders appear under My account with tracking when we ship. Software downloads stay on the account that owns the license.

No — it complements your workflow. HeliosForged is a desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux that handles guided calibration, probing file generation, GRBL interaction, and controlled program execution from one operator interface.

Create an account and sign in right away. After you buy HeliosForged or the M.A.R.S. Kit, the installer and a license key stay on your account Downloads page so you can download it again anytime. Enter that key in the app — it keeps working offline. Updates re-check the same key. Evaluation accounts can still be granted by an administrator.

No. Customer accounts can sign in with email and password. Two-factor authentication is optional for any account and is strongly recommended for store administrators. If you enable 2FA on your account, downloads and other protected actions require a recent authenticator verification at sign-in.

Yes. Probing and machine profiles save as JSON you can load on any workstation — same machine, same results, every shift.

GRBL over USB serial — status polling, jogging, macros, WCS management, and program streaming are built around GRBL conventions. See desktop CNC compatibility for details.

Common CNC types including .nc, .gcode, .tap, and .txt, with preview and streamed execution.

Some states need extra shipping review. See product details and our Terms and Conditions before ordering.

HeliosForged runs on Windows 10/11 (64-bit), macOS 12+ (Apple Silicon or Intel), and Linux x64. Download the build for your platform after signing in — each includes live GRBL control, probing NC generation, and M.A.R.S. operation streaming.

Paid roles are listed only when we are hiring. Beta testing for hardware tools and HeliosForged software is always open — apply on the careers page.

Visit the HeliosForged patch notes page for version history. The app also shows a short summary when an update is available, and licensed builds check heliopshub.com for new versions on startup.