Hi! I’m getting a set of small miniatures printed as a gift for a painting project. They’re about 25–30 mm tall and have fine details such as faces, clothing, weapons, and accessories. A local shop in Concepción, Chile, quoted CLP $24,000 (about US$24.40) for 56 pieces printed in white PLA. They said they would use FDM, a 0.4 mm nozzle, and a 0.12 mm layer height, with a 3–5 business day turnaround. They also offered to print one sample for CLP $2,500 (about US$2.50) and send photos or a video from several angles after removing the supports. My slicer estimates about 34 minutes for one figure with supports. The full order works out to roughly CLP $429 (about US$0.44) per piece, so the sample feels expensive by comparison. I’m trying to decide whether it’s worth paying for the sample or getting another quote. I’d appreciate your advice: What level of detail should I expect from FDM with a 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.12 mm layers on figures this small? Are support-removal marks likely to be noticeable on faces, weapons, or clothing? Would you pay for the sample? Does the price seem reasonable as a minimum charge for a one-off print? What photos or details should I ask for before ordering the full batch? Would you also get a resin quote, or is PLA likely to be good enough for miniatures that will be painted? I’m not trying to accuse the shop of anything; I’m just trying to understand whether the price and expected quality make sense before I decide. Thanks! https://preview.redd.it/0pgykc8jh91i1.png?width=1919&format=png&auto=webp&s=0440eab3d73aeb82f73947e2da0cf151e493dae4   submitted by   /u/Ausentinio [link]   [comments]