Small-business websites are often full of useful information — product details, policies, FAQs — yet customers still struggle to find what they need. They send messages or open tickets asking questions you’ve already answered somewhere on your site.

AnswerRails™ fixes that for WordPress users.
Our WordPress plug-in helps your website understand what people ask, match it with your existing content, and reply confidently — using only information you control. An attractive, modern chat interface on the front-end. Robust knowledge base and compliance controls in the back.

The problem for small businesses

If you run a small business, every support request costs time.
A customer types “returning my order” while your page is titled “Refunds and Exchanges.”
Another asks “warranty claim” but your content says “Product Guarantee.”

Humans see the match instantly — computers don’t.
AnswerRails bridges that gap between how people talk and how your website is organised.

How AnswerRails works

It combines two layers of intelligence designed for WordPress:

1. Local understanding
   The plugin scans your pages and builds simple language variations — recognising plurals, prefixes, and synonyms. This means your site can suggest the right page or insert smart links, even without an AI service connected.
2. AI-powered chat (optional PRO feature)
   The PRO version connects to OpenAI’s models and a private “vector store” of your own documents. The assistant replies in natural language, grounding every answer in your verified business content — not random web data.

Accuracy, quality, and compliance built in

We know small businesses can’t afford AI going off-script, so AnswerRails includes safety and accountability by design:

• Grounded in your content – Every response is validated against your pages or uploaded files. Any AI-generated links are checked and stripped if invalid.
• Structured answers – Replies must meet a minimum quality score before display, ensuring clarity and consistency.
• Full audit trail – Each interaction is logged so you can see what was asked, what was answered, and which sources were used.
• Privacy-aware – Chats and logs stay in your WordPress database, with options for anonymised sessions and consent prompts and data retention policies to stay GDPR-compliant.

Free and PRO editions

When AnswerRails™ launches in January 2026, there will be:

• 🟢 Free Edition – Core smart-linking, AI chat, local knowledge search, and privacy-compliant logging.
• 🔵 PRO Edition – Vector-store knowledge, analytics dashboard, and advanced compliance controls for teams that want deeper automation.

Both are designed for small businesses that already use WordPress and want their websites to help customers instead of hiding answers.

Why this matters

• ✅ Reduce repetitive support requests
• 🔍 Link customers to verified content
• 🧾 Keep full visibility and control
• 🛡️ Stay compliant and privacy-safe

Whether you run a shop, service business, or local organisation, AnswerRails™ helps your WordPress site speak clearly, safely, and in your own voice.

You’ve already written the answers. AnswerRails™ makes sure people can find them — reliably, responsibly, and without extra overhead.

(AnswerRails™ is in closed beta for November 2025, with public release planned for January 2026.  Check back soon for more details)

The post Making Your Website Answer Back — Safely and Reliably appeared first on Celtic3d.

At Celtic3d, we make 3D printing simple. Most of our production is handled through our trusted manufacturing partner, giving us access to industrial-scale capacity, a wide choice of technologies and materials, and consistently high quality. Better still, when you need multiple identical copies of a part, you’ll benefit from generous quantity discounts.

There is one trade-off: because of courier transit times, set-up costs per file and a minimum order value, this service is not the best option for once-off small parts. For larger projects, prototypes or batches of parts, however, it’s an excellent fit.

Our core 3D printing technologies

SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) – PA12 Nylon

Our go-to process. SLS fuses fine PA12 powder layer by layer into strong, detailed parts.

• No support structures needed → allows intricate, interlocking or organic shapes.

• A versatile, durable material with a slightly textured finish.

• Great choice for functional parts, prototypes and assemblies.

SLA (Stereolithography) – Resin

The next most popular option. SLA uses a light-cured liquid resin for superb detail.

• Smooth surface finish, excellent for visual models.

• Can mimic some production plastics, ideal for product design prototypes.

• Wide range of resin properties to choose from.

FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) – Filament

The odd one out. FDM prints by extruding melted plastic (e.g. PLA).

• Best suited for larger, simpler shapes.

• Limited detail compared to SLS or SLA.

• We don’t use this much, but if it’s needed for a project, we will seek a solution through our manufacturing partners.

To contact us: email sales@celtic3d.com or phone +44 (0)7714 790161 (During business hours – GMT+0)

The post 3d Printing Services appeared first on Celtic3d.

Effective from 10th April 2025, all new digital downloads will include a choice between two types of licence:

Personal Licence

This option is intended for private individuals and hobbyists. It allows the file to be 3D printed for personal use or as a gift. However, prints made under a personal licence may not be sold, and the original digital file may not be shared or redistributed.

Commercial Licence

This option is designed for makers and small businesses who wish to produce physical items for resale. It permits the manufacture and sale of printed products based on the downloaded file, but does not allow digital redistribution or modification for resale.

What About Previous Purchases?

If you purchased a downloadable file from Celtic3d before 10th April 2025, your original licence terms still apply. These new options only affect new purchases made on or after that date.

Why the Change?

We’ve introduced this new licensing structure to:

• Continue to offer an affordable option for personal, non-commercial use

• Support small businesses and home-based makers who want to resell printed products

• Protect the originality and integrity of our 3D designs

If you have any questions about which licence is right for you, or if you need clarification about how you may use your files, please contact us.

The post New Licence Options for 3D Downloadable Files appeared first on Celtic3d.

Ferrari 360 / 430 Right Hand Drive Clutch Pedal

Using high-resolution digital scans and working with brogenville, a local Ferrari expert and enthusiast, we have been producing parts that are no longer in production and that are very difficult to source. 

Producing the parts is made possible by the expertise and hands-on experience brogenville has in converting Ferraris with automatic transmission to manual.   This is a continuation of a fruitful collaboration that started with a clutch pedal for another model of Ferrari.

The original OEM parts are cast in aluminium with selected faces machined flat and threads tapped.   The industrial process to create castings requires minimum production quantities to make it worthwhile.  So, for small batches,  we find it more economical to machine the parts from a solid aluminium block.

Our aim is to produce a part that could simply be bolted in.  To achieve that, we include the press-fit bearings and bushings.  Because the bushings and gearings are already fitted for you,  you don’t have to source and fit these yourself.

The post Parts for sale- Reproduction right-hand drive clutch pedals for Ferrari 360’s and 430’s appeared first on Celtic3d.

Making hard to find Ferrari parts

Every now and then, an unusual challenge drops into our inbox.  So it was when we were asked if we could help make a clutch pedal for a Ferrari.    This was needed for a project to convert a rare right-hand-drive Ferrari from an automatic gearbox to a manual stick-shift.    

To be clear,  car mechanics are not our strong suit.  So this project would require a lot of input from our client.   Luckily, in this case, our client seemed to know what he was asking for.   His long-term project was to convert a Ferrari “612 Scaglietti” to a manual transmission.  He would be the first person, worldwide to complete this.  Apparently, only 27 right-hand-drive versions of this car were ever made, and whatever stocks of spare right-hand-drive clutch pedal arms were originally manufactured,  none are currently available on the market. 

Safety First

Our first discussion was on whether the clutch pedal was a safety-critical part.  If it was,  then a whole lot of testing and assurance would be needed that would have likely made the job uneconomic.  While a clutch pedal failing during operation would be annoying,  it would not affect the safe control of the vehicle or the ability to bring it to a stop.   So, we were happy to proceed. 

General approach

In very general terms,  the job split into two phases.  First to recreate the CAD (digital) version of the design,  then Second, to select the most appropriate way of manufacturing the part and get it made.

As with any job that initially looks fiendishly complex,  it’s a case of decomposing it down into small tasks that can be accomplished,  and then make a start and work your way through your list of tasks.  Our assessment of the job was that, although it looked complicated,  we had enough contextual information and known measurements to figure out the design.   It was an interesting challenge in reverse engineering. And, who doesn’t want to work on a Ferrari?

Recreating the design in CAD

We did not have access to the Ferrari CAD files for the clutch pedal.  The reference available to us was some 2d drawings from a maintenance manual,  photos from a car with manual transmission, and the bracket that all the foot pedals fit to.  

Using these references, we would need to create our own CAD design.  Our design had to meet some key design criteria:

• The location of the pins and pivot points where the part joins to the bracket needed to match the actual bracket.
• The location in space, angle and range of movement of the socket that accepts the connecting rod from the clutch mechanism needed to be correct – as seen in the 2d drawings in the manual.
• The max and min range of travel for the pedal arm needed to match the drawing in the maintenance manual.
• The location in space of the clutch pedal relative to the other pedals needed to match the photos of existing manual transmission examples.  

Although we have never actually seen a clutch pedal arm for a RHD Ferrari, and the only drawing we had consisted of a single side-view, as long as we met these criteria, the bearing points and interfaces were at the correct angles, we were confident that the part would work.  

We created a new CAD version in Autocad Fusion 360.    A big advantage of using Fusion 360, is that we were able to give our client online access to the project so that we could both see progress and comment on the design as it developed.  This gave our client some confidence that the part was evolving in the right direction and that progress was being made,  but also allowed us to tap into the knowledge and experience of our client to resolve tricky aspects of the design.

Manufacturing the part

To reduce the risk of wasting money on parts that were not quite right, we ran two iterations where a plastic versions of the pedal arm was 3d printed as a test-fit.  Final tweaks and adjustments from the test-fit fed back into the CAD design.  

Having confirmed the correct size, shape, connection points and angles, we were ready for final manufacture.  Three main options were explored to create the final part.  Each with its own pros and cons.

Direct 3d printing in metal.   Pros:  Quick.  Underhangs and voids easily done.  Cons: The size of the part meant that it would have to be 3d printed in a few pieces which would bolt together to form the full-sized shape.  Some machining of bearing surfaces would be needed to finish.  Cost: £££

Investment Casting.   A sand mould would be made around a 3d printed plastic master,  then cast in aluminium.  This is how Ferrari made the original parts.  However,  when trying to find a company to do this, we were not able to find a foundry that could handle the size of the part.  We learned that the larger the wax master, then the hotter the furnace needed to successfully melt it out.  Pros:  Would result in a single piece,  Cons:  Some machining of bearing surfaces would be needed to finish.  Some voids would need to be filled in and cut out later.  Unable to find a foundry that could handle the part.  Cost:  N/A 

CNC Machining from metal stock. Pros: Best surface finish.  Bearing surfaces would be finished in a single process.  Cons:  Quite a complex shape – would require advanced tooling. Cost: ££

The final process was to send the CAD files we developed to a CNC machining shop via 3D Hubs.  For this project, our client chose to send the files to 3D Hubs himself.  For other projects, we can take care of this as an end-to-end service.  The key part of the process where Celtic3d can add value is in creating the digital files that can then be sent to manufacturing.

The Results

These images show the CNC machined part received from 3D hubs.    It was a complicated shape to machine.    To be honest, we were prepared for a request to modify the design, perhaps splitting it into a few different parts to make it easier to manufacture.    But, the machine shop found via 3D Hubs, had a 5-axis CNC machine and no problems with it.

“It was a great experience working with Celtic 3d. This is obviously an unusual project, so when I emailed about the project I was pleasantly surprised then that Celtic 3d was willing to have a go. Seeing the design come to life via the web interface was really helpful, and allowed me to make comments as the design evolved. Gavin really couldn’t have been more helpful and accommodating.”

RHFerrari Owner

Making your parts

It is always rewarding to see a digital creation you have worked on, produced in physical form.  We are particularly pleased with the way this job turned out.   As an example,  this job perfectly illustrates what is possible if you combine the ability to create 3d content with flexible on-demand manufacturing capability.

If you would like to learn more about our lightweight CAD capabilities, or if you are trying to figure out how best to get something made,  please contact us to discuss your needs.

The post Hard to find Ferrari parts appeared first on Celtic3d.

We are often asked what software we use to create 3d models for printing.  The answer depends on the type of project.   This potted guide explains some of the software we use in the production of our 3d models.

The basic workflow for any 3d printing or CNC project is

1. create a digital 3d model.
2. break this down into commands the machine can understand.
3. send the commands to the machine.   

In this article, we are mainly concerned with the first step, creating the digital 3d model.

See also:  An Overview of 3d Printing. 

The right tool for the job

If the model is driven by dimensions, say it has to have a specific pattern of holes, or a specific size,  we use CAD (Computer Aided Design) software.  

Some projects involve more organic shapes, or a highly detailed surface.  For these, we use mesh modelling tools. 

Repairing issues with mesh files is a specialist job for mesh analysis and repair tools.  

Sometimes, mainly for CNC and laser cutting,  we just need the outline, or a path to follow with an engraving or cutting tool.  For these we need drawing software that can create paths or vectors. 

CAD (Computer Aided Design)

CAD software is all about dimensions.  If you know that something has to be a certain thickness, with specifically sized holes in exact locations, these can be created in CAD software in a matter of seconds.   In CAD software, if the dimensions change later in the design process,  you can quickly find the parameter, and change it.   The software will apply the change and update all the downstream characteristics that depend on that parameter.   So,  if you placed a feature in the center of an object, but later change its width or length,  your feature is still in the center.

This ability to drive the design by defining and updating parameters is known as parametric modelling, and it is very powerful.  Especially when working in an iterative design process where changes are frequent.

CAD File Formats

CAD software has been widely used for decades.  Over the years, several industry standard file formats have emerged. It is usually straightforward to import and export files between different CAD packages using these formats.  IGES and the newer STEP format are the most common.  These file formats preserve all the dimensional data in the design.  

For 3d printing however,  files need to be exported in a mesh format. The most common format is  STL (Simple Tesselation Language).  The STL format describes the surface shape like a digital lump of clay.  STL files contain no information about units, colour or materials.  While you can still take measurements,  the STL format does not contain any of the parameter information from the CAD version.  Converting to STL format creates a series of triangles for the surface.  A flat plane can be described using a few of these triangles. A sphere may use thousands.  If you zoom in on a curved surface in an STL file, it will be made up of many small flat surfaces.  If the resolution of the surface is not high enough, these will show in your final print.    

While editing CAD designs by updating parameters is fast and easy,  making changes once it has been converted into STL format is difficult and time consuming. 

At Celtic3d, we use Autodesk Fusion 360 for design work on a daily basis, and occasionally SketchUp which is popular among some of our architectural clients.

Mesh Modelling

When working with organic shapes, say a landscape or a figurine,  it is more important to have precise control over the overall shape and form rather than just be driven by dimensions.   More like digital sculpting than engineering design.     It may also be necessary to make changes to an existing STL file where the original CAD version is not available.   In these cases, you need to use software that allows direct editing of the surface mesh.

Mesh software breaks down into two main categories,  analysis and fixing of issues with the mesh, and authoring tools to create your own mesh from scratch.

What’s a Mesh?

A mesh comprises of a series of vertices (points in space), connected by edges (connecting two vertices) and faces (enclosed by three or more edges).   While the STL file format works with triangles,  Faces with four edges (quads) are easier to work with when editing.   It is also possible to work with faces with more than four edges (polygons). 

For 3d printing,  the mesh needs to have thickness and volume, fully enclosing a space without any holes.    A mesh that successfully encloses a volume is known as watertight or “manifold” and is essential for 3d printing.  If 3d printing software comes across holes in the mesh, or a face that does not enclose a volume,  it will either fail or have unpredicted results when trying to print.

Fixing Issues

Getting the mesh right is critical to a successful 3d print.  This applies equally to files that have been exported in STL format from CAD software and to files that have been created from scratch in mesh modelling software. It also applies to 3d models that might have come from another source – like a 3d scan.  

Scanning software creates thousands of reference points from an object, known as a point cloud.  Many scanning packages can convert these point clouds into a mesh.  Essentially this involves treating the points as vertices and joining them together with edges and faces.  The resulting mesh often needs clean-up to fix holes in the model where the software found insufficient points to join together.

At Celtic3d we use several industrial strength tools to analyse and fix mesh issues prior to 3d printing. 

MeshLab (http://www.meshlab.net) is available as Open Source under GPL licence and is an invaluable tool to find and fixing issues with your 3d model file.  It has features to automatically find and fill holes as well as fix the most common mesh issues.

Creating Your Own 3d Models

While exporting from CAD, downloading STL files from the web or scanning objects are all viable ways to get your 3d model file.  Often 3d modelling from scratch is the best option.  Our go-to software for creating 3d models from scratch is Blender.   It is not just a great tool for digital sculpting and mesh modelling.  It is also a full-featured 3d authoring environment. Blender covers everything from CGI (Computer Generated Images), animation, video editing, physics simulations, materials, textures and lighting.

It has superb 3d modelling capabilities and has an included 3d printing add-in (enabled via User Preferences) to export files in STL format.  Like any software of this breadth of capability, you will need to invest some time to get to grips with it.  However, the payback is enormous.  Health warning:  if you get the bug, it can take over your life.   But, you will be joining a massive online community of artists who have created a large library of tutorials and resources to get you started. 

Blender is Open Source, available at blender.org and is a free download.  We encourage you to make a contribution if you find it useful.    

Celtic3d is a member of the Blender Professional Network.

Quick Tips

Creating a guide to using Blender for 3d print projects is beyond the scope of this article.  For those of you who have already dipped a toe in the water, some quick tips for using Blender specifically for creating 3d printable models.

1. Sort out your scale from the outset.  The STL file format does not include any information about units,  however most software assumes 1 unit = 1 mm in the real world.  Blender, by default, uses it’s own unit scale when exporting STL files.  The easiest way to handle this is to adopt a convention where 1 Blender unit = 1 mm.
2. Pay attention to real-world sizes and thicknesses.  It is easy to get sucked into spending hours on details that turn out to be too small to see in the 3d print.
3. Use non-destructive modifiers.  A quick way to ensure that all your wall thicknesses are 3d printable is to model using planes and add a “solidify” modifier to make them a defined thickness.    (Remember to “Apply Scale” when modelling and turn on the “Apply Modifiers” option in the 3d Print utility.)

Vector Art

Although strictly not relevant to 3d printing,  we frequently combine 3d printed parts with 2d CNC machined components in the same model.  CNC machines and laser cutters need a defined path to follow.   These paths, or vectors, are created in 2d drawing software.  We use Adobe Illustrator for this purpose,  mainly because we can also then use Illustrator for other graphics work.   

There are Open Source vector drawing tools available but unfortunately their functionality generally lags behind Autodesk’s.

Closing

Preparing and creating files for 3d printing involves a whole toolbox of software.  Fortunately, much of what you need is readily available and often free to download and try.  Choosing the right tool depends on the type of job in-hand.  We have hopefully given you some pointers.   If you found this article useful, please link and share.

The post Creating Content for 3d Printing appeared first on Celtic3d.