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From aerospace to education: for each sector a typical application, the technology that fits and roughly what it costs.
What it costs, by sector
Below, for each sector, a typical question and a worked example. The amounts are the part's volume times the material's starting price, excl. VAT and finishing. You'll see your own price in Quotebase.
Aerospace: lighter brackets
The question: a bracket that stays just as strong but weighs far less than the machined original. How we make it: SLM in titanium, with a lattice inside where the part carries no load. Such a design is typically 30 to 50% lighter and needs no mould. Worked example: 60 cm³ × €6.50/cm³ = from €390.00 per part, excl. VAT. A run of 25 can start straight away, with no set-up costs.
Automotive: parts without a mould
The question: a few hundred ventilation grilles for a new model, faster than an injection mould can be ready. How we make it: MJF in black PA12, with the clips designed in. An injection mould quickly costs tens of thousands of euros and weeks of waiting; up to a few thousand parts, printing is often cheaper. Worked example: 35 cm³ × €0.70/cm³ = from €24.50 per part, excl. VAT. 500 parts therefore come to from €12,250, with no mould.
Consumer goods: testing handles
The question: a more comfortable handle for a kitchen appliance, without commissioning a new mould straight away. How we make it: Three variants in flexible TPU, printed with SLS, to test side by side. The best shape then goes into production. Worked example: 20 cm³ × €0.85/cm³ = from €17.00 per part, excl. VAT. Three variants together cost from €51.
Education: custom teaching models
The question: anatomical models for a group of students, showing conditions that standard models don't have. How we make it: SLA in clear resin, so the inside stays visible. Every model can be different at no extra cost. Worked example: 150 cm³ × €0.50/cm³ = from €75.00 per part, excl. VAT. For a group of 20 students that comes to from €1,500.
Electronics: enclosures in small runs
The question: enclosures for an outdoor sensor, in a quantity too small for injection moulding. How we make it: MJF in grey PA12, with a groove for a seal in the design. How watertight it gets depends on the seal and the design; we review that with you up front. Worked example: 40 cm³ × €0.52/cm³ = from €20.80 per part, excl. VAT. 100 enclosures come to from €2,080.
Engineering: jigs and fixtures
The question: a jig that holds delicate parts in place during assembly. How we make it: FDM in PETG: strong enough for daily use and the cheapest way to make a fixture. If it isn't a perfect fit, a new version is ready within days. Worked example: 80 cm³ × €0.35/cm³ = from €28.00 per part, excl. VAT.
Machine building: internal cooling channels
The question: a compact part with cooling channels inside that milling or drilling can't make. How we make it: SLM in 316L stainless steel. The channels follow the shape of the part, and functional faces are machined afterwards where the fit must be tight. Worked example: 120 cm³ × €3.99/cm³ = from €478.80 per part, excl. VAT. Post-machining is extra and listed separately in the quote.
Medical: planning models
The question: a model of a patient's anatomy to plan and explain a procedure in advance. How we make it: SLA in clear resin, straight from the scan. Parts that touch the patient fall under the medical device rules (MDR); we discuss that up front. Worked example: 90 cm³ × €0.50/cm³ = from €45.00 per part, excl. VAT.
Robotics and automation: lighter grippers
The question: a gripper lighter than the aluminium version, with room for sensors. How we make it: SLS in white PA12, with sensor holders and cable channels designed in. A printed plastic gripper typically weighs a fraction of a machined aluminium one. Worked example: 50 cm³ × €0.65/cm³ = from €32.50 per part, excl. VAT.
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