FDM, resin, SLS and metal
Send a file and we’ll check it, recommend a process and material, and send a clear quote, usually the same day. Everyday plastics for prototypes and batches, resin for fine detail, SLS nylon for tough parts, and laser-melted steel or aluminium when the part has to be metal.
Plastic processes
Most plastic parts are FDM: fast, economical and tough enough for real use. Resin takes over when detail matters most, and SLS nylon when a part needs engineering-grade toughness.
A heated nozzle lays down melted filament one thin line at a time, building the part layer by layer. Most jobs start here: quick to set up, kind on budgets, and strong enough for parts that get used.
Light cures liquid resin into very thin layers, giving crisp edges and surfaces that look almost moulded.
A laser fuses nylon powder. The loose powder supports the part as it builds, so there are no support marks to clean up.
Metal 3D printing
When it has to be metal and the shape is hard to machine: internal cooling channels, lattices, organic brackets or several parts merged into one. Metal printing builds them without tooling, from a single prototype to a small production run.
Simple, blocky parts are usually cheaper to CNC machine. Send the file and we’ll tell you which route costs less, with a quote that’s usually ready the same day.
Pricing
No single price per gram is fair for every job. These eight things shape your quote, and we always look for the most economical way to make the part. Tap any of them for a plain-English explanation.
Machine time is often the biggest single factor. Halving the layer height roughly doubles the number of layers. We pick the coarsest setting that still looks right for how the part will be used, and go finer only where it shows.
Every quote lists printing, any design work, finishing and delivery as separate lines. We confirm the scope with you before anything is made.
Layer height
FDM builds a part from stacked slices. Thinner slices follow curves more closely, but every extra layer adds time. Drag the slider and watch the steps on this curved edge.
0.20mm
Curves show it most. Domes, slopes and fillets reveal the stair-steps. Straight vertical walls look much the same at any setting.
Time adds up fast. Halving the layer height roughly doubles the layer count, and print time with it.
We set it for you. Tell us how the part will be used and we’ll choose the setting that balances looks, strength and cost.
Finishing
A printed part can stay raw or go all the way to painted. Every part is cleaned and checked before dispatch, and customers notice the difference. Tell us which surfaces will be seen or touched and we'll suggest the level that's worth paying for.
Straight off the build plate. Fine layer lines, plus small marks and stubs where supports held up overhangs.
Good for: Jigs, fit checks, hidden parts
Supports taken off, stringing and sharp edges cleaned up by hand. Layer lines are still visible. Every part gets at least this.
Good for: Most functional parts
Surfaces sanded to soften the layer lines, so the part feels smoother in the hand and photographs better.
Good for: Handled prototypes, product shots
Filled, primed and painted for an even colour with no visible layers. Quoted as a separate line item.
Good for: Presentation models, display pieces, gifts
File prep
A clean file and a few details let us quote accurately the first time.
Files we accept
Drawings and reference photos as PDF, JPG or PNG help too. Send everything on WhatsApp, where you can attach as many files as you like.
Tell us with your file
No file yet?
We model it in Fusion 360 and prepare a print-ready file. The design work is quoted on its own, so you know what it costs before we start.
Questions
Material questions are covered in the materials guide. For machined, laser cut or sheet metal parts, see fabrication.
Fast. Most enquiries get a clear, itemised quote the same day. Send the file or photos on WhatsApp for the quickest reply.
Accurate enough for most fits, though holes and mating features can come out slightly tight. Tell us which dimensions matter and we'll orient and tune the print for them, or print a quick test piece first. For tight metal tolerances, critical faces are post-machined.
FDM prints show fine layer lines. If you need a smoother look, we can sand, prime and paint, or print in resin for fine detail.
You don't have to choose. Tell us how the part will be used and we'll pick a setting: finer layers for curved, visible surfaces and small detail, coarser layers for jigs and internal parts where speed matters more.
Send the overall dimensions. Large models can often be split into sections and joined, and we'll tell you what's practical for your part before quoting.
Yes. Resin for the finest detail, SLS nylon for tough functional parts, and DMLS/SLM metal printing in stainless steel 316L or aluminium AlSi10Mg. Tell us what the part has to do and we'll recommend the process in your quote.
Yes. One-off prototypes and replacement parts are a big part of what we do, and we also handle batches of identical parts.
STL, STEP/STP, OBJ and 3MF for 3D models; DXF, DWG or PDF drawings for laser cutting, sheet metal and machining; and JPG or PNG for reference photos.
Usually, yes. We'll check it prints well first. Please make sure the design's licence allows you to have it made, since free to download doesn't always mean free to manufacture.
Next step
Send the file and the details that matter. Unsure about a process or material? Say so and we'll recommend one, usually with a quote the same day.
Helpful to include