What you can 3D print
3D printed prototypes and small-batch production
Try your design before paying for a mould: FDM 3D printing for functional prototypes, fit and assembly checks and small batches, with an instant price.
What changes
With a prototype the real question is whether it fits. Design in the process's typical tolerance, and leave clearance in snap fits and screw holes. For functional trials choose the filament closest to the final part: PETG or ABS for impact, carbon-fibre nylon for stiffness.
Typical parts
Enclosure and housing prototypes, snap-fit and assembly trials, jigs and fixtures, pre-launch batches of a few dozen, holders and brackets.
Information: Good to know
A printed prototype is not the injection-moulded part it stands in for: its strength depends on print orientation because it is built in layers, and its surface differs. Test with the final production method too before committing to a run.
Whether a printed part suits your application is yours to judge; we make it to your file and the options you choose.
Common questions about this
Why use 3D printing for prototypes?
No mould or tooling: change the file, upload it again and see the new version's price instantly. You can order several design variants together to compare them side by side.
Does the unit price fall in a small batch?
Yes. The unit price falls according to how many parts actually fit on a build plate, and the quote updates as soon as you change the quantity. At very high volumes an injection mould usually becomes cheaper.
How accurate will my prototype be?
Every quote shows the process's typical tolerance and an estimate of the thinnest wall in your part. Leave clearance where parts must fit together, and see our tolerances guide for critical dimensions.
Let's print your first part.
Upload your 3D model and see the price straight away. Nothing is charged until you place your order.
