CUSTOM PARTS. FROM CAD TO PHYSICAL FORM.
Turn your CAD into custom parts for design reviews, assembly checks and functional prototypes. Compare resin, nylon and thermoplastic printing routes with material and finishing support for your application.
FIND YOUR PRINTING ROUTE
A detailed presentation model, a nylon housing and a thermoplastic fixture each call for a different approach. Send your CAD and intended use so we can review the process, material and finishing route together.
01 / SLA
Stereolithography cures liquid photopolymer resin layer by layer. Consider it for intricate features, smooth-looking surfaces and models used to communicate a design.
Typical brief: appearance models, small-feature reviews and fit-check components. Specify the resin and post-cure state for functional testing.
02 / SLS
Selective laser sintering fuses polymer powder, with the surrounding powder supporting the build. It is a route to explore for intricate nylon geometries and assemblies.
Typical brief: housings, brackets and short-run prototype parts. Provide access to remove powder from internal spaces.
03 / MJF
Multi Jet Fusion uses fusing agents and heat to form parts in a powder bed. Review this route for nylon components and batches of repeated geometries.
Typical brief: assembly samples, enclosures and functional evaluations. Select the exact grade and conditioning around your test.
04 / FDM
Fused deposition modeling builds parts from extruded thermoplastic. It is a practical route to compare for concept models, handling samples and fixture development.
Typical brief: form checks, jigs and assembly aids. Review layer direction, wall construction and surface expectations.
Include the alloy, geometry, loads and any heat-treatment or machining requirements in your RFQ. Metal additive projects need a separate review of the available process, material and inspection scope.
Process availability and the final material grade are confirmed in your quotation.
MATERIALS FOR YOUR APPLICATION
Start with the job the part must do: communicate a shape, fit an assembly, flex under load or work in a defined environment. These material families provide a starting point for engineering review.
| Material family | Printing route to review | Where to start | Specify for selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid photopolymer resin | SLA | Detailed models, presentation parts and assembly samples | Stiffness, color, cosmetic faces and exposure conditions |
| Clear / translucent resin | SLA, subject to grade and finishing review | Covers, display models and visual checks of internal features | Clarity target, thickness, tint and surface finish |
| Nylon PA12 | SLS or MJF, with a process-compatible grade | Housings, brackets and functional prototype components | Loading, fit, surface texture and conditioning |
| Nylon PA11 | MJF, subject to grade availability | Parts needing a review of ductility and repeated deflection | Flex cycles, impact conditions and dimensional requirements |
| ABS / polycarbonate thermoplastic | FDM, exact filament grade to confirm | Concept models, fixtures and assembly aids | Temperature, load direction, wall construction and finish |
Share your target properties, operating environment and reference material. The proposal should identify the exact grade and technical data sheet. ABS-like resin and printed ABS have different properties; select against the intended test.
SURFACE FINISHING & SECONDARY OPERATIONS
Finishing can improve presentation, remove build artifacts or prepare interfaces for assembly. Mark visible surfaces and critical dimensions so the finishing plan supports both appearance and fit.
BUILD FINISH
Define the condition needed after printing, cleaning and support removal. Allow for the process texture and any permitted support contact marks.
COSMETIC FINISH
Review sanding and paint for presentation parts where the substrate is compatible. Supply a color reference and identify surfaces where coating thickness affects assembly.
COLOR
Discuss dye compatibility with the selected nylon grade. Agree color expectations with a reference sample and retain the texture required for the application.
ASSEMBLY FEATURES
Review secondary operations for critical holes, mating surfaces or fasteners. The design needs suitable access, material and allowance for the selected operation.
Available finishes are confirmed against the selected process and material. Resin post-cure and polymer conditioning belong in the agreed delivery specification.
FROM DESIGN REVIEW TO SMALL BATCHES
Use a physical part to discuss proportions, check interfaces or develop a test setup. Choose the route around the decision you need to make and the number of parts you need.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Explore shape, scale, ergonomics and component packaging with a physical model before moving further into product development.
ASSEMBLY VALIDATION
Review enclosure interfaces, mounting points, access and assembly sequence. Call out the features that determine fit.
FUNCTIONAL PROTOTYPES
Evaluate a defined load, movement or handling condition using a suitable material and build orientation. Keep conclusions tied to those test conditions.
SHORT-RUN DEVELOPMENT
Request quantity breaks for evaluation sets, fixture iterations or small batches. Compare printing with casting or tooling as the design and demand develop.
Explore vacuum casting for repeated cosmetic samples, or rapid tooling when injection-molding resin and process behavior are central to validation.
3D PRINTING SPECIFICATIONS
Usable build size, wall thickness, surface texture and dimensional accuracy depend on the selected machine, material and geometry. Your quote should define the limits that apply to your part.
| Specification | SLA | SLS / MJF | FDM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build size | Part envelope plus orientation and support allowance | Usable powder-bed space and part arrangement | Build envelope, orientation and split-part options |
| Walls & features | Thin sections, fine detail and support access | Thin sections, powder escape holes and internal cleaning | Walls, ribs, overhangs and extrusion-path constraints |
| Dimensional accuracy | Resin, support removal and post-cure effects | Grade, thermal distortion and conditioning effects | Material, layer direction and distortion effects |
| Surface condition | Resin surface and permitted support marks | Powder texture and any agreed finish | Visible layers and any agreed smoothing or coating |
| Delivery schedule | Build, cleaning, post-cure, finish and inspection | Build, cooling, depowdering, finish and inspection | Build, support removal, finish and inspection |
Supply tolerances and datums for critical features. Layer height describes the build increment; dimensional acceptance is agreed separately. Inspection reports and application-specific tests can be scoped with the quotation.
DESIGN SUPPORT
A few decisions before printing can make the sample more useful. Include these details with the model so we can review the build around your priorities.
Mark cosmetic areas, mating surfaces, loads and datums. These help determine orientation and where support contacts are acceptable.
Plan access for support removal, resin drainage or powder escape. Include a cleaning and inspection requirement for internal passages.
Specify finishing, inserts and the test environment. Evaluate dimensions and performance after the agreed processing and conditioning.
HOW TO ORDER
Get an engineering-reviewed quotation through our existing RFQ page. A clear model, material brief and quantity help establish a practical route and schedule.
Send 3D CAD or a watertight mesh with units. Add a drawing, quantity, material preference, finish and target date.
Confirm process, exact material, build considerations, secondary operations, inspection scope and delivery milestones.
Check the delivered parts against the agreed drawing and finish. Use the findings to guide the next design revision or quantity.
3D PRINTING FAQS
Price depends on process, material, geometry, build arrangement, quantity, finishing and inspection. Send the model and quantity breaks for a project-specific quote; hollowing or combining parts should be reviewed against the intended use.
Start with appearance, fit, loading and environment. SLA is a route to review for fine detail and visual models, SLS or MJF for nylon components, and FDM for thermoplastic models or fixtures. The exact grade and geometry determine the final recommendation.
Send 3D CAD where available, or a watertight STL with units and adequate mesh resolution. Include a revision-controlled drawing for tolerances, threads and critical features, plus your material, quantity and finishing requirements.
The schedule is confirmed after model and material review. It includes build preparation, printing, cooling or curing where needed, cleaning, finishing and inspection. Confirm shipping separately and flag a required arrival date in the RFQ.
Yes, when the selected process, grade, orientation and finished state suit the defined test. Specify loads, temperatures, fluids and duration. Test results apply to those conditions and do not automatically establish injection-molded or long-term performance.
Include the exact alloy or polymer grade and its intended use. Availability, build route, heat treatment, secondary machining and inspection require a separate engineering review before an offer is confirmed.
It can be worth comparing when geometry is complex, quantities are limited or designs may change. Include repeat quantities in the RFQ and compare the total cost, material needs and finish with vacuum casting or prototype tooling.
