3D printing quotes: prices, manufacturers and approval

Choose the model source

New file: POST /v1/storefront/quotes/upload, using multipart.
File already in the account: POST /v1/storefront/quotes with file_id.
Dashboard product: the same JSON request with product_id.

{
  "product_id": "prod_abc123",
  "quantity": 2,
  "color": "black",
  "destination": { "country": "FR", "postal_code": "34000" }
}

Send the API key and an Idempotency-Key with each creation request. Without a postal code, production prices can be compared but no delivered total is shown.

Optional settings

Field	Default	Use
`quantity`	`1`	From 1 to 50 identical copies
`material`	`PLA`	Exact ID from `GET /v1/materials`, for example `bambu-pla-matte`; `PLA` remains the legacy alias
`color`	`auto`	Reference to a colour of this material; `auto` proposes a match for the file's colours
`height_mm`	Original size	Proportional resizing, from 5 to 350 mm; may require approval
`destination.country`	`FR`	Delivery country, two-letter code
`destination.postal_code`	Absent	Required for a delivered price
`product_variant_id`	Default compatible variant	Only for a saved product
`personalization`	`{}`	Fields defined on the saved product

For multipart uploads, country and postal_code are separate form fields; the other options use the same names. For several different models, request a quote for each model. This interface covers one object, one configuration and one destination at a time.

Exact materials and colours

Call GET /v1/materials with your API key (quotes:read). The response contains materials, with each range's id, name, role and colors. Each colour provides id, code, label, hex and hexes (several shades for a multicolour filament). Only use ranges with role: "model" as the main material; the others are support filaments.

{
  "file_id": "file_abc123",
  "material": "bambu-pla-matte",
  "color": "bambu-pla-matte:11101",
  "quantity": 2,
  "destination": { "country": "FR", "postal_code": "34000" }
}

A PLA Basic colour cannot be combined with PLA Matte. References are compared against the manufacturer's exact stock and its price list for that material. The catalogue does not guarantee that a manufacturer or a qualified profile is available. Without a compatible offer, the quote remains unavailable: there is no silent substitution with PLA Basic. With color: "auto", a difference between the file's colours and the proposed shades may require preview approval.

Legacy requests using material: "PLA" with color: "black" are still accepted. For a new integration, use catalogue IDs and retain material and the response's colors with the quote.

Read the response

Each entry in options contains:

Field	What to display or use
`id`	The `option_id` to retain if you choose this manufacturer
`supplier`	Manufacturer ID, name, city and country
`colors`	`ref` references and `hex` shades of the proposed manufacturing file
`price.production_cents`	Manufacturing and preparation for the entire quantity
`price.service_cents`	FRED service fees
`price.shipping_cents`	Parcel shipping, or `null`
`price.total_cents`	Amount to pay, or `null` while shipping is missing
`dispatch_hours`	Expected time before dispatch, after payment
`transit_hours`	Expected transit time, or `null`
`delivery_hours`	Expected overall lead time, or `null`
`available`	This option can be selected now
`reason`	Reason for unavailability, if any
`expires_at`	End of the price's validity
`estimate_source`	`slicer` after successful slicing
`indicative`	The price or terms still need confirmation
`estimation_notice`	Explanation to display with the provisional price

During initial slicing, no provisional price option is published. The visual preview may already be available, but prices and measurements wait for successful slicing. Keep reading poll_url while the quote is being calculated. Only use an option with available: true to order, after completing any required approvals.

Lead times are estimates, not a capacity reservation. FRED ranks options according to its recommendation policy: lead time, quality, price and distance. recommended_option_id identifies the first orderable option. The cheapest manufacturer is therefore not necessarily the recommended one.

To let FRED choose when ordering, omit option_id. To preserve the choice made on your website, send it with quote_id. Availability is checked again before the order is created.

Wait or request approval

Quote `status`	Action for your website
`processing`	Read `poll_url` every two seconds
`needs_destination`	Request the postal code and calculate shipping
`ready`	Show available options and allow ordering
`action_required`	Display the preview and ask for model approval
`unavailable`	Display `issues`, `reason` or `unavailable_suppliers`; do not offer payment

Get an exact price quickly

A storefront quote becomes ready as soon as an exact, available option can be ordered. It no longer waits for alternative profiles to finish slicing. comparison_complete: false means other manufacturers are still being calculated: you can keep reading poll_url to complete the comparison. The recommendation may change; send option_id to preserve the choice shown to your customer.

Slicing measurements are reused for the same account, prepared file, profile, material and palette. A new quantity or destination recalculates prices without slicing the unit again. Prices and availability are still checked for each new quote.

For a store, request a quote for each configuration you will sell before listing it, then wait for the comparison to finish. Customer requests can then reuse those measurements. New geometry, personalisation, size or machine settings may require initial slicing: an exact price within seconds is not guaranteed.

If approval_required is true, show the option's preview to your user, then call POST /v1/preparations/{preparation_id}/approve with {"artifact_id":"artifact_abc123"} after their explicit approval. Reload the quote afterwards. Approval does not replace missing technical qualification. Preview URLs also require authentication: serve them through your server without exposing the API key to the browser.

Changing the material, quantity, size, colour or model requires a new quote. An existing quote's price stays fixed; an expired result can no longer be ordered.