Was kostet ein Prototyp im 3D-Druck?

Bei kleinen Bauteilen liegen die Kosten häufig im niedrigen zweistelligen Bereich, bei großen Gehäusen oder Hochleistungswerkstoffen deutlich darüber. Die Treiber sind Bauteilvolumen, Werkstoff und Nachbearbeitung. Eine Preisspanne ohne Daten ist Raten, deshalb rechnen wir am Modell.

Kommt nach dem Prototyp auch die Nullserie von Ihnen?

Ja. Das ist der praktische Vorteil: Werkstoff, Orientierung und Prozessparameter des freigegebenen Musters bleiben erhalten, wenn wir 20, 100 oder 500 Teile nachfertigen. Sie prüfen ein Teil und bekommen dasselbe Teil in Menge.

Können Sie ohne CAD-Modell arbeiten?

Bei einfachen Geometrien reichen eine technische Zeichnung oder ein bemaßtes Handmuster. Für komplexe Freiformflächen brauchen wir 3D-Daten oder ein Bauteil, das sich vermessen lässt.

Wie gehen Sie mit Geheimhaltung um?

Daten werden ausschließlich für die Fertigung des Auftrags verwendet und nicht weitergegeben. Eine NDA können Sie vor der Datenübermittlung schicken, wir zeichnen das vor Angebotserstellung.

Prototype building without tooling cost

Single samples, variants and pilot runs from one shop. In prototype work, time is lost to queries and reorders, not to print time. That is where we start.

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Variants and reorders in 2 to 4 working days

Typical jobs

Prototype work rarely means one part. It means one part, then three variants, then twenty pieces for field trials.

Single samples

One part to align internally or with your customer, usually ready to ship within two working days.

Variant comparison

Several geometry or material variants in parallel, so decisions are made on real parts instead of on screen.

Pilot run and field trials

20 to 500 parts with the same parameters as the approved sample, documented and repeatable.

Replacing machined samples

Where machined samples exist only for looks, printing is faster and cheaper, often with no downside in testing.

Suitable materials

PLA and PETG cover visual samples. As soon as parts get tested, assembled or installed, we move to ABS, ASA, PC or fiber filled PA.

Read the materials guide

What speeds up a quote

01A STEP file instead of STL, so dimensions, radii and threads are unambiguous.
02Quantity now and quantity later. That noticeably changes material choice and price per part.
03Name the target date. We say plainly what is realistic instead of confirming a date and missing it.
04State whether threaded inserts, painting or marking are needed.
05Describe the part's function in one sentence. That lets us spot failure sources before printing.

Full DFM checklist

Prototype building: from idea to pilot run

Traditional prototype building was long dominated by tooling cost. Today the path from first sketch to pilot run can be walked without a single mould as long as quantities stay in the low hundreds. What changes most is when a decision has to be made: you can commit later than before.

For samples and demonstration parts, surface finish matters alongside accuracy. Unsanded, the layer structure stays visible, which is fine on technical samples and not on design samples. Sanded, filled and painted, the difference from a moulded part is not visible at arm's length, but it costs hand work.

For a pilot run we lock the same points as in series production: material lot, profile, orientation and a measured first article. That way the pilot run is not just a quantity of parts but solid evidence that production is repeatable.

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

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Prototype building FAQ

What does a 3D printed prototype cost?: Small parts often land in the low tens of euros, large housings or high performance materials well above that. The drivers are part volume, material and finishing. Quoting a range without data is guesswork, so we calculate on the model.
Can you also produce the pilot run after the prototype?: Yes. That is the practical advantage: the material, orientation and process parameters of the approved sample carry over when we build 20, 100 or 500 parts. You approve one part and get the same part in volume.
Can you work without a CAD model?: For simple geometry a technical drawing or a dimensioned hand sample is enough. For complex freeform surfaces we need 3D data or a part that can be measured.
How do you handle confidentiality?: Data is used solely to produce the order and is not shared. Send an NDA before transferring data and we sign it before quoting.