3D Printing & Prototyping Services

The main costs associated with 3D printing are the number of unique parts, material cost, individual part volume and post-processing requirements. To reduce costs you need to understand the impact of these factors on cost.

The most obvious tip for reducing the cost is to reduce the amount of material used. This can be achieved by reducing the size of your model, hollowing it out, and eliminating the need for support structures.

The second most important tip is to choose the right process for the job. In general, FDM is the most economical 3D printing process for very low volumes (1-10 pieces). SLS, MJF and SLA are more expensive at low volumes, but share similar price ranges and are generally more competitive than FDM for orders of 10 or more pieces. Metal 3D printing is much more expensive than plastic 3D printing.

The third tip is to design parts correctly. Each 3D printing technology has its own benefits and limitations, which affect the affordability of certain design choices.

In manufacturing you're only as good as your last order, so we take quality seriously.

Before the goods are sent out, we will have special quality inspectors to check the quality of the goods. We include a comprehensive, standardized inspection report with every order to ensure quality metrics are being met, and offer a first article inspection service on orders of 100+ units.

We also have multiple certifications available on request, including but not limited to ISO9001, ISO14001 and IATF 16949.

There are multiple processes and materials available, which means there are many ways you can approach this problem.

By material: if you already know which material you would like to use, selecting a 3D printing process is relatively easy, as only a few technologies can produce parts from the same materials.

By use case: once you know whether the part needs to be functional or visually appealing, choosing a process is relatively easy. As a rule of thumb, thermoplastic polymer parts are better suited for functional applications while thermosets are best suited for visual appearance.

The third tip is to design parts correctly. Each 3D printing technology has its own benefits and limitations, which affect the affordability of certain design choices.