Ab welcher Stückzahl spricht man von einer Kleinserie?

Wir behandeln alles ab etwa 50 Teilen als Serienauftrag mit eigenem Parametersatz, Erstteilfreigabe und dokumentierter Maßprüfung. Nach oben ist bei rund 5.000 Teilen pro Jahr aus einem Werkstoff die Grenze meist wirtschaftlich, nicht technisch.

Wann ist 3D-Druck günstiger als ein Spritzgusswerkzeug?

Solange die Werkzeugkosten nicht auf genügend Teile verteilt werden können. Bei einem Werkzeug für 12.000 Euro und 800 Teilen pro Jahr trägt jedes Teil 15 Euro Werkzeuganteil. Der Druck ist dann günstiger und die Geometrie bleibt bis zum letzten Los änderbar.

Bleiben die Maße über mehrere Nachbestellungen gleich?

Ja, weil wir Werkstoffcharge, Trocknung, Orientierung, Bauplattenposition und Slicer-Parameter je Bauteil festschreiben. Nach der Erstteilfreigabe wird dieser Satz gesperrt und nur nach Absprache geändert.

Können Sie in festen Losen liefern?

Rahmenaufträge mit monatlichen oder quartalsweisen Abrufen sind üblich. Sie senken die Kapitalbindung, und wir planen Werkstoff und Maschinenzeit vorab ein.

Small series from a German 3D printing shop

50 to 5,000 parts in engineering materials, produced with a locked parameter set, first article approval and documented dimensional checks. No tooling cost, no minimum order quantity.

Upload your production part Talk to an engineer

First batch usually in 3 to 8 working days, repeat orders faster

What companies use printed small series for

A small series is not a prototype. These parts go into products, machines and production lines, so they have to be repeatable.

Pre-series before tooling

Build the first hundred units, collect field feedback and change geometry before tooling cost is committed.

Low volume products

Special machines, test equipment and lab devices rarely reach molding volumes. Printed parts fit there permanently.

Variants and customization

Ten variants of a bracket cost no more than ten identical parts. One mold per variant would be unaffordable.

End of life and spares

When a mold is worn out or a supplier is gone, a printed small series replaces stock without new investment.

Suitable materials

In production the material choice matters more than the price per part, because heat, load and UV exposure decide failures.

Read the materials guide

What we settle before the first batch

01Which two or three dimensions have to be inspected, including tolerance and gauge.
02Peak service temperature and load type, so material follows the application instead of a datasheet.
03Orientation and load direction, because layer adhesion stays the weakest axis.
04Post processing: threads, pressed inserts, reamed holes and surface requirements are fixed in the quote.
05Call-off plan and batch size, so material batch and machine time can be reserved.

Full DFM checklist

What a small batch in 3D printing really costs

In small batches the cost structure shifts noticeably compared with a single part. Setup time is spread across all parts and the build volume can be filled. Between one and twenty parts the unit price usually drops substantially, between twenty and a hundred only moderately, because material and print time then dominate.

For recurring demand we record profile, material lot and orientation in writing. That sounds like paperwork, but it is why the fourth-quarter delivery matches the first one dimensionally. Without a locked process, tolerances drift with nozzle, lot and operator.

The quantity at which an injection mould pays off depends less on the number than on the rate of change. As long as the part is still being revised, printing is almost always cheaper because every tool change is expensive. With stable geometry and demand above a few thousand a year, cost both routes.

Manufacturing data at a glance

Location: Schleswig, Germany
Part size: up to approx. 250 x 250 x 250 mm, larger parts split and joined
Quantities: 1 to several thousand, no minimum order quantity
Tolerances: approx. ±0.2 mm for PLA, PETG and carbon grades, ±0.3 mm for ABS, ASA and PC
Layer height: 0.10 to 0.30 mm
Materials: 20 engineering filaments from PLA to PA12-CF and PC FR
File formats: STEP, STL, 3MF, OBJ, IGES up to 200 MB
Lead time: 2 to 4 working days for samples, 4 to 15 working days for series

Machines and capacity Quality assurance Costs and price estimator Frequently asked questions

Instant Quote

Upload Your File for Instant Pricing

Receive fast pricing and manufacturing feedback in minutes. STEP, STL, 3MF and OBJ supported.

Small series FAQ

What counts as a small series?: We treat anything from about 50 parts as a production order with its own locked parameter set, first article approval and documented dimensional checks. The upper limit around 5,000 parts per year is usually commercial, not technical.
When is 3D printing cheaper than injection molding?: As long as tooling cost cannot be spread over enough parts. With a 12,000 euro mold and 800 parts per year, each part carries 15 euros of tooling. Printing is cheaper in that case, and the geometry stays changeable until the last batch.
Do dimensions stay the same across repeat orders?: Yes, because we fix material batch, drying, orientation, plate position and slicer parameters per part. After first article approval that set is locked and only changed by agreement.
Can you deliver in fixed batches?: Blanket orders with monthly or quarterly call-offs are common. They reduce your tied-up capital and let us plan material and machine time in advance.