3D printed prototypes, manufactured in Germany
Functional prototypes in more than 20 engineering materials. Instant quote on upload, express dispatch from 24 hours, and the same parameter set later in production.
Express prototypes ready to ship within 24 hours
Four prototype stages, one manufacturer
A prototype has a different job at each development stage. Material, tolerance and effort should follow what you actually need to learn at that stage.
Concept and form model
Check proportions, ergonomics and packaging early. PLA is fast and cheap enough to print three variants at once.
Fit and assembly check
Verify clearances, snap fits and mounting points against real hardware before you release a drawing.
Functional and load testing
Print in the engineering material the final part will use, so test results transfer instead of misleading you.
Pre-series and bridge production
Produce the first tens or hundreds of units while tooling decisions are still open.
Materials for prototypes
A functional prototype should be printed in the material of the production part, otherwise you are testing the wrong component. For pure form and fit models PLA is enough.
- PA12-CFCarbon-filled nylon 12 - the metal replacement workhorse.
- PA12Tough, low-friction nylon for functional mechanical parts.
- PCPolycarbonate - high impact, high heat, transparent option.
- ASAThe outdoor specialist - ABS mechanics with true UV stability.
- PETGTough, food-safe-capable everyday workhorse.
- PLAFast, affordable prototyping and visual parts.
How to make the first print usable
- 01Send STEP where possible. It keeps exact geometry and lets us adjust wall thickness or add a machining allowance without rebuilding the model.
- 02Mark the two or three dimensions that must be right. Orientation and inspection follow from that.
- 03Name the highest temperature and the load the prototype has to survive. That decides the material more than anything else.
- 04Keep walls at or above 1.2 mm for load bearing sections, and avoid unsupported spans that will need heavy support removal.
Which material for which prototype
The most common reason a prototype turns out useless is not production but a material that does not match the test task. This mapping covers most cases.
| Test task | Material | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shape, proportion, ergonomics | PLA | Fast, dimensionally stable and cheap enough for several variants in one build. |
| Fit and assembly | PETG | Tougher than PLA, survives snap fits, good dimensional stability. |
| Heat, outdoor use, sun | ASA or PC | Much higher continuous service temperature, ASA additionally UV stable. |
| Load, wear, joints | PA12 | High toughness and wear resistance, yields under overload rather than snapping. |
| Stiffness at low weight | PA12-CF | Very stiff and dimensionally stable, suited to brackets, grippers and gauges. |
| Seals, buffers, grips | TPU | Flexible and abrasion resistant, replaces moulded elastomer parts in a prototype. |
What a prototype costs
The price of a printed prototype comes mainly from part weight, print time and material. A small PETG bracket often lands in the low double digits, a larger PA12-CF enclosure well above that. Supports, inserts and post processing add to it where needed.
Two levers cut cost noticeably without weakening the result: infill between 20 and 40 percent instead of solid, and several variants in one build instead of separate orders. Solid infill mainly adds print time in FDM without fixing the weak point along the layers.
For a concrete figure we need part volume, material and quantity. The estimator gives you an order of magnitude in a minute, and the binding quote follows after you upload the STEP file, usually within a few hours.
Upload Your File for Instant Pricing
Receive fast pricing and manufacturing feedback in minutes. STEP, STL, 3MF and OBJ supported.
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