3D printed parts that come off the printer right
We design or adapt parts for the printing process you will use, so they print without failures and fit what they attach to.
In plain English.
A part designed for machining often fails as a 3D print. Overhangs sag, thin walls break, holes come out undersized and long flat parts warp. Each process has its own rules: FDM needs sensible overhang angles and orientation for strength, resin needs drainage holes and support planning, and SLS needs escape holes for unsintered powder. We design around the process you are using.
We also design for fit. Printed parts shrink and vary, so mating features need clearance allowances that suit the printer and material, whether PLA, PETG, ASA, nylon or resin. You get STL or 3MF files set up at the right scale and orientation, and we can arrange a test print and adjust before you order a larger batch from a print bureau.
It suits you if.
- Your prints keep failing, warping or snapping
- You need jigs, fixtures or brackets printed for your workshop
- You want short runs or spare parts without tooling costs
- You have a machined part design you want to print instead
What we do.
Process rules applied
Wall thickness, overhangs, bridges and supports designed for FDM, resin or SLS.
Clearances for fit
Holes, slots and snap fits sized with allowances that suit your printer and material.
Orientation for strength
Parts oriented so layer lines do not sit across the main load path.
Threads and inserts
Bosses for heat-set brass inserts or captive nuts where printed threads would wear out.
Test prints
We can arrange test prints and adjust the design before a full run.
How it runs.
- 01
Free call
Tell us what the part does, what it attaches to and which printer or bureau you use.
- 02
Design
We model the part with the process and material in mind from the outset.
- 03
Test
A test print is made on your own printer or through a bureau we arrange.
- 04
Finalise
We adjust clearances and details after testing and issue the final files.
Questions people ask.
Which 3D printing process should I use?
FDM is cheap and good for brackets, jigs and enclosures. Resin gives fine detail and smooth surfaces for small parts. SLS nylon is strong, needs no supports and suits functional parts and small batches. We recommend one based on what the part has to do.
Can you print the parts?
We design the files. Printing is done on your own printer or through a print bureau we arrange, with bureau costs passed through at cost or paid directly by you. If it helps, we can compare a couple of bureaus for price and material options.
Can you fix a model that keeps failing?
Usually. Send the STL or CAD file, photos of the failed prints and details of your printer and material. We work out whether the problem lies in the design or the slicer settings, then fix the design side and suggest settings to try.
Do I get editable files?
Yes. Along with STL or 3MF, you get STEP files, so the design can be edited in any CAD package later, by us or anyone else. STL files are hard to edit, so keeping the STEP version is well worth it.
Your next chapter starts with a conversation.
Nottingham & Derby / UK-wideLet’s build
what’s next.
15 minutes with Garreth.
A real conversation about your business.
