FDM printing
Deposition of thermoplastic filament (PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, nylon, fibre-filled composites): suited to jigs, functional prototypes and large parts at low cost.
Expertise
3D printing subcontracting
FDM, resin, polyamide powder or metal: post your file and compare quotes from professional 3D printing services.
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3D printing, or additive manufacturing, builds a part layer by layer from a digital model. For a design office, an SME or a craftsperson, it avoids tooling, accepts complex shapes and lets you produce a single part with no extra set-up cost. Professional 3D printing services are equipped with several technologies, each suited to a use: you do not print a nylon housing the way you print a presentation mock-up or a titanium heat exchanger.
The choice of technology is the first topic. FDM (fused deposition modelling) produces strong, economical parts, including large ones. Stereolithography (SLA, DLP) gives very fine surfaces and precise detail. Polyamide powder sintering (SLS, MJF) makes mechanical parts without supports. Laser powder bed fusion of metal (SLM, DMLS) produces parts in aluminium, stainless steel, titanium or superalloy.
This page helps you choose the technology, prepare your file, understand realistic tolerances and the price factors. If you need hundreds of identical parts, also compare with plastics processing; for precision metal parts, CNC machining remains a serious alternative.
Common services
SLA and DLP stereolithography
A liquid resin cures under light: smooth surfaces, fine detail, transparent parts or burn-out patterns for foundry. It suits mock-ups, high-quality housings and small precise parts.
SLS and MJF polyamide sintering
Beds of nylon powder fused by laser or by a heating agent produce strong parts without supports, in dense builds, including for small runs.
SLM and DMLS metal printing
Laser fusion of metal powder: internal channels, lattices, lightweighting, one-piece parts impossible to machine. The parts are often finish-machined on the functional surfaces.
Multi-material and colour printing
Some material-jetting technologies combine several resins or colours in a single part, useful for realistic mock-ups and design prototypes.
Post-processing and finishing
Support removal, sanding, smoothing, dyeing, painting, infiltration, insertion of metal threads: the workshop delivers a part that is ready to use.
3D scanning and model reconstruction
To reprint a part without a file, some services scan the part and rebuild a usable model before printing.
Materials worked
PLA, PETG, ABS, ASANylon (PA12, PA11), glass or carbon filledFlexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)Standard, tough, transparent or high-temperature resinsPolycarbonate and high-performance polymers (PEKK, PEEK)Aluminium AlSi10MgStainless steel 316L and 17-4PHTitanium Ti6Al4VNickel-based superalloys (Inconel 718, 625)
Common applications
- Design and functional validation prototypes
- Custom jigs, tooling and robot grippers
- Spare parts that are unobtainable or obsolete
- Small runs of housings and casings
- Lightweight parts in aerospace, space and motorsport
- Medical devices, surgical guides and custom prostheses
- Architectural and product models for sales presentations
- Casting moulds and patterns for foundry
What affects the price
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1
Technology and material
A PLA part made by FDM costs far less than a metal part: the material, the technology and the size of the machine set the order of magnitude of the price.
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2
Material volume and print time
The actual volume of the part, its height and the amount of support define machine time. Hollowing out a part or reducing its infill density often lowers the price.
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3
Supports and orientation
Orientation determines surface quality, strength and the volume of supports to remove. A badly oriented part can double the post-processing time.
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4
Number of parts per build
In powder bed technologies, parts are nested in the build volume: the denser the build, the lower the unit price.
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5
Finishing and post-processing
Sanding, smoothing, dyeing, painting and machining of functional surfaces represent labour time. A raw part is cheaper than a finished one.
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6
Lead time required
An express lead time gives priority to a machine, with a surcharge. Allowing a few extra days generally lowers the price.
Tips for a successful request
Post a request- Provide a clean 3D file: STL or 3MF for polymers, preferably STEP for metal and for any part that may be modified.
- Specify the use (aesthetic, mechanical, thermal, food contact) so the workshop proposes the right material.
- Indicate the critical dimensions and functional surfaces: a printed part allows for fit clearances and sometimes finish machining.
- Mention the colour, finish and level of appearance expected: as printed, sanded, painted or textured.
- Specify the quantity and frequency: from a single copy to a run of several hundred, the most cost-effective technology may change.
- Check the orientation and minimum wall thickness of your part, or ask the workshop for a feasibility analysis before launching.
Which 3D printing technology for which part?
The same file can be printed in several ways, with very different results. The table below summarises the main families, as a guide; exact capabilities depend on each machine and each service.
| Technology | Strengths | Limits | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDM | Low cost, large parts, wide choice of materials | Visible layer lines, reduced strength along the vertical axis | Prototypes, jigs, large parts |
| SLA / DLP | Fine detail, smooth surface, transparency | Resins sometimes brittle or UV-sensitive | Mock-ups, small precise parts, moulds |
| SLS / MJF | Strong parts without supports, dense builds | Slightly grainy surface, limited colours | Housings, mechanical parts, small runs |
| Metal SLM / DMLS | Complex geometries, engineering materials | High cost, finish machining and heat treatment | Aerospace, medical, complex tooling |
Several rules help you decide. For a single large part or one of simple shape, FDM is enough. For fine detail or a flawless appearance, stereolithography takes the lead. For ten to a few hundred mechanical parts, polyamide sintering is often the most cost-effective. For printed metal, the central question is whether the complexity of the geometry justifies the extra cost compared with machining: our guide 3D printing or CNC machining helps you compare.
Preparing your 3D file: formats, walls, clearances and tolerances
A good file avoids most unpleasant surprises. The STL format, which describes the part as a mesh of triangles, is universal but loses dimension information: export it at a high enough resolution so that curved surfaces are not faceted. The 3MF format also keeps units and colour. For metal or for parts that may be edited, a STEP lets the workshop adjust certain dimensions before printing.
Make sure you supply a watertight model: no holes in the mesh, no inverted faces, with units explicitly in millimetres. Respect a minimum wall thickness, around a millimetre for most polymers and thinner only in metal, depending on the machine. Very fine elements, such as spikes or filaments, risk breaking when supports are removed or during cleaning.
Tolerances depend on the technology and the size of the part. As a guide, allow a few tenths of a millimetre for FDM, slightly less for resin, around ±0.3 mm or 0.3% for polyamide sintering, and finish machining for any tight fit on a metal part. Allow assembly clearances of several tenths of a millimetre between two printed parts, and request tapping or metal inserts for threads under load.
Finally, think about orientation: a part printed flat is stronger in the plane than across the layers. If one direction has to bear the load, tell the workshop. For projects in the research phase, prototyping offers a broader approach that combines several processes.
Prototype, small run or production: where does 3D printing stop?
3D printing shines on low quantities: with no tooling, the cost of the first part is almost the same as that of the tenth. Beyond a few hundred parts, the unit cost barely falls any further, whereas an injection mould or an amortised machining process sees its own drop. This crossover depends on size and material; work it out with several quotes rather than relying on a fixed rule.
Printing also serves as a bridge to industrialisation: validate the shape and ergonomics on a few copies, then move to a mould or to machining once the design is stable. That is the logic of the guide from prototype to series. For plastic parts intended to be moulded, make sure to build the wall thicknesses and draft angles of the future tooling into the prototype so that the move to production stays simple.
In a Meaflow request, simply give the file and the use of the part: print services may respond with different technologies for the same object, which makes the comparison of price, finish and lead time more telling. Nothing stops you asking for a sample part before launching a run. Post your file when you are ready.
Suppliers: 3D printing
Guides to go further
3D printing or CNC machining: which should you choose for your parts?
3D printing or CNC machining? Seven selection criteria, FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF and metal technologies, a comparison table and cases where combining both processes makes sense.
From prototype to series production: the stages of industrialisation
Mock-up, functional prototype, pre-series, tooling, qualification: how to structure the move from a single unit to repeatable production, and choose the right processes for your volumes.
STEP, DXF, STL… which files should you send your manufacturer?
STEP, IGES, Parasolid, DXF, STL, 3MF, dimensioned PDF, Gerber: the right file for each manufacturing process, a summary table and good practice for sending files.
Related expertise
Prototyping
Functional prototypes, pre-series, models
CNC machining
Milling, turning, 3- to 5-axis machining centres
Plastics & moulding
Plastic injection, thermoforming, moulds, silicone
Design office & CAD
Design, drawings, 3D modelling, calculations
Frequently asked questions
A question not answered here? Visit the help centre or write to us.
How much does custom 3D printing cost?
The price depends on the technology, material, part volume, print time, supports, post-processing and quantity. A small plastic part remains affordable, whereas metal is far more expensive. As every model is different, the only sure way is to send your file and compare several quotes.
Which file format should I provide for 3D printing?
STL and 3MF formats are accepted by almost all services for polymers; STEP is preferable for metal or if changes are possible. The model must be watertight, at real dimensions in millimetres. If useful, attach a drawing showing the critical dimensions and functional surfaces.
What is the lead time for 3D printing?
For polymers in common technologies, generally allow a few working days, more for large parts, finishes or runs. Metal often takes longer, with heat treatment and possible finish machining. Some services offer an express lead time with a surcharge: state the date that suits you in your request.
How accurate is a 3D-printed part?
It varies with the technology: in the order of a few tenths of a millimetre for FDM, slightly less for resin, around ±0.3 mm or 0.3% for polyamide sintering. For a tight fit, especially on a metal part, finish machining is still necessary. Tell the workshop your critical dimensions before launch.
Is 3D printing suitable for a small run?
Yes, from a few copies to a few hundred parts, especially with polyamide sintering where several parts are produced in the same build. Beyond that, an injection mould or machining often becomes more economical. Ask for several quotes at different quantities to find the tipping point for your part.
Can a metal part be 3D printed?
Yes, in aluminium, stainless steel, titanium or superalloy, by laser powder fusion. The process suits complex geometries and lightweight parts, but remains costly. Functional surfaces are generally finish-machined. State the material, mechanical loads and any sector standards so the workshop can reply.
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