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Low-Volume 3D Printing Production

End-use parts printed in FDM and SLA, in the quantities you need now, from the same files every time. No tooling, quantity pricing on the quote, and reorders that start from the order you already approved.
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What is low-volume 3D printing production?

It is making a batch of finished parts directly from a CAD file, with no mold or tooling. Each part is priced on its own, quantity tiers lower the per-part price automatically, and a changed design is a new file rather than a new tool.

A printed part's price falls more slowly with quantity than a molded part's does, because there is no tool to spread across the run. That is why printing suits batches whose design may still change, products with several variants, and demand you cannot yet forecast, and why a frozen, high-volume part deserves a real mold quote to compare against.

Related: Compare 3D printing with injection molding.

Upload your file to get exact pricing

When printing is the right production method

Batches that suit printing
Printing fits whenWhy
The design may still changeNo tool to rework; a new revision is a new quote
Several variants or sizesEach part is priced on its own; no tool per variant
Demand is uncertain or seasonalOrder what you need now and reorder the same files later
Parts are needed before a mold could be readyNo tooling step before the first part
Batches that may not
Look elsewhere whenWhat to do
The design is frozen and demand is steady and highA mold spreads its cost over every part; compare a real mold quote
You need metal or a plastic we do not printSee the materials catalog for what we print
A feature needs a tolerance tighter than the published guidanceAsk for the free printability review before ordering

Capabilities and limits

  • Processes

    FDM for strong functional parts in engineering plastics, and SLA for fine detail and smooth surfaces. One order can mix both; each part is priced by its own process and material.

  • Largest part in one piece

    FDM 350 × 320 × 325 mm, SLA 353.2 × 198.7 × 400 mm, in any orientation. Larger parts go to large-format review, where they can be split into sections and assembled.

  • Tolerances

    Typically FDM ±0.2 mm and SLA ±0.1 mm. That is general guidance that depends on geometry, not a guarantee; see tolerances and accuracy.

  • Materials and finishing

    The full materials catalog is available for production. FDM post-processing (sanding, vapor smoothing for ABS and ASA, painting, threaded insert installation, dyeing and assembly) is quoted on request.

How a production order works

  1. Step 1

    Approve a first article

    Order one part, or a small pilot quantity, in the exact process, material, color and finish the batch will use, and sign it off against a named file revision.

  2. Step 2

    Quote the batch

    Upload the approved revision and set process, material, color and quantity for each part. Quantity tiers are applied automatically, and you can compare quantities before you commit.

  3. Step 3

    Choose speed and pay or send a PO

    Pick Standard, Priority or Express on the quote, each with its own ship-date estimate, then pay online or send a purchase order.

  4. Step 4

    Production and shipping

    Parts are printed and shipped from Fort Lauderdale, FL. The shipping step shows each carrier's own delivery estimate for your address.

  5. Step 5

    Reorder from the same files

    With an account, "Order this again" on a past order starts a fresh quote from that order's exact files and configuration, priced at current rates.

Production time and delivery time are separate. The ship date on the quote depends on the speed you choose and the parts in the order; the carrier's transit time is added after shipping, and the shipping step shows each carrier's estimate before you pay.

Files and paperwork for a batch

Files

STEP, IGES and 3MF carry their units. STL and OBJ carry none and are read as millimeters, so check the measured size in the Model size panel on the quote and set the file's unit if it is wrong. Put the revision in the file name. More in STL units and what a CAD review checks.

Purchasing

Pay online or send a purchase order. A business account offers volume pricing, net terms on approval and tax-exempt setup, and the vendor form returns our W-9, certificate of insurance and capability statement.

Guides for a production run

Frequently asked questions

What counts as low-volume production?
Batches of finished end-use parts in the quantities you need now, where a mold or other tooling is not justified yet. Each part is printed directly from your file, and quantity tiers are applied automatically on the quote.
Will the second batch match the first?
Keep everything you control the same: the file revision, process, material, color and finish. The published typical tolerances (FDM ±0.2 mm, SLA ±0.1 mm) are general guidance that depends on geometry, so mark the features that matter and inspect them on every batch.
At what quantity should we switch to injection molding?
There is no universal number. It depends on part size, material, geometry, the tooling quote and whether the design has stopped changing. Compare the tiered price on our quote with a real mold quote at the quantities you expect to buy.
Can one production order mix FDM and SLA parts?
Yes. Each part is configured and priced by its own process and material, so a resin housing and FDM brackets can go on the same order.
Do you accept purchase orders and net terms?
We accept purchase orders and issue invoices. Net 30 or Net 60 terms are available on approval through a business account, never automatically. The W-9, certificate of insurance and capability statement are sent after the vendor form.
What is the largest part you can produce in one piece?
FDM 350 × 320 × 325 mm and SLA 353.2 × 198.7 × 400 mm, in any orientation. A larger part goes to large-format review, where it can be split into sections and assembled.

Quote your production batch

Upload the approved file revision, set the quantity for each part and see the tiered price before you commit.

Get Instant Quote →