Prototypes and small batches without the tooling
Test a design on Monday, change it, print it again on Thursday. Then run the batch from the same file. No minimum order, no mould, and the same price per part from one to a hundred.
Who this is for
Product makers
Enclosures, housings, handles and clips while the design is still moving. Print a revision, hold it, change it, print it again.
Engineers and trades
Jigs, fixtures, gauges, spacers and brackets for the job in front of you. Draw it, upload the STEP, have it in a few days.
Small businesses
Short runs of a part you sell or use, without paying for a mould. Reorder from the same file when stock gets low.
Students and researchers
Project parts and rigs printed to your drawing, with an invoice your department can process.
Why FDM for prototypes
Good for
- Checking fit, form and how a part feels in the hand
- Functional testing in the plastic you'd actually use: PETG, ASA, TPU, fibre-filled grades
- Enclosures, brackets, housings, jigs and fixtures
- Runs of 1 to a few hundred where a mould doesn't make sense
- Parts up to 350 × 350 × 310 mm, or larger in pieces
- Fast turnaround: standard 3 to 5 business days, express 2
Not the right pick for
- A moulded surface finish. Layer lines are fine but visible
- Clear or transparent parts
- Features under about 0.5 mm or tolerances tighter than FDM allows
- Thousands of parts, where a mould pays for itself
How a batch runs
- 1
Prototype
Upload the STEP or STL, pick the material and get a price. Order one, or a couple in different materials.
- 2
Refine
Hold it, test it, change the model. Upload the new revision and order again. Each one is priced on its own.
- 3
Batch
Set the quantity on the final file. Same part price each, one setup fee. Tell us in the notes if any dimension is critical.
- 4
Reorder
Keep the file. When you need more, upload it again and the price is worked out the same way.
Good questions
How many can you make?
From one to a few hundred. Each part is priced the same whatever the quantity, with one setup fee per order, so a batch of 50 is simply 50 times the part price plus $16.50. For larger runs email us and we'll quote the job as a whole.
Can I send a STEP file?
Yes, straight from CAD. STEP, STL, OBJ and 3MF are all fine. STEP keeps the exact geometry, so it's the best choice for parts that have to fit.
Will all the parts in a batch be the same?
They're printed from the same file with the same settings on the same kind of machine, so yes, within normal FDM tolerances. If a dimension matters, tell us and we'll check it on the first part before running the rest.
Which material should I prototype in?
If you're checking fit and form, PLA is the cheapest and prints the cleanest. If the part will be tested for real, print it in the material you'd use for the finished thing: PETG or ASA for most, TPU if it has to flex, a fibre-filled grade for stiff or hot jobs.
Can you add threaded inserts or do finishing?
Not as standard. Design the holes for heat-set inserts and press them in yourself, or ask in the notes and we'll tell you what we can do on that job.
Do I get an invoice?
Yes. Put your business name on the quote and you'll get a tax invoice with GST. Pay by card on Stripe's secure page.
Is my design kept private?
Files are used internally. For more information see our terms and conditions. See our privacy page.
Price your prototype
Drop the STEP or STL into the quote tool and see what it costs in each material.