3D printing service for hardware development — from concept to production in one shop.
Hardware development is expensive and slow when every stage requires a different vendor, different tooling, and different qualification. Our 3D printing service covers the entire hardware development lifecycle — concept models, functional prototypes, design verification builds, pilot runs, and production parts — in one shop, with one team, using consistent materials and quality standards throughout.
Challenges we solve
What hardware development teams need from a 3D printing service
Managing the prototype-to-production transition
The gap between "prototype works" and "production part ships" is where hardware programs stall. Switching from a prototyping vendor to a production vendor means new NDAs, new qualification, new lead times, and new failure modes. Our 3D printing service handles both — same materials, same engineer, same QA process — so the transition is a volume increase, not a vendor change.
Iterating fast enough to hit milestones
Hardware programs have gates: concept review, design freeze, DVT, PVT, mass production. Missing one gate cascades into the next. We deliver FDM prototypes in as fast as 1 business day and SLA in 2–3 business days so your team can iterate between gates without schedule slip. Weekly design reviews get weekly physical parts.
Matching the right material to each development stage
A concept model does not need production-grade nylon. A production part does not need SLA surface finish. We guide you through the material progression — from PLA at $1/part for early concepts to Nylon PA12 at higher volumes for end-use parts — so you spend the right amount at each stage.
Scaling volume without retooling
When your design is validated and orders start coming in, we scale from 10 prototypes to 50 pilot parts to 5,000+ production parts — all on the same platform, with no tooling investment. Per-part costs decrease with volume, and you can adjust quantities order by order based on actual demand.
Technologies
Best technologies for hardware development
Materials
Materials for hardware development
Early concept stage: PLA on FDM ($) for form-factor validation and basic ergonomics. Design review stage: Standard Resin on SLA ($$) for smooth, presentation-quality prototypes. Functional testing stage: Tough 2K on SLA ($$) or PETG on FDM ($) for snap-fit testing, drop tests, and mechanical validation. Pre-production stage: MJF Nylon PA12 ($$$) for production-representative parts that approximate injection-molded nylon. Production stage: MJF Nylon PA12 or PA11 at volume with batch consistency and QA documentation. Each stage uses a different material optimized for that phase — but all come from the same shop with the same quality process.
PLA
FDM · Shore D 81
General purpose, biodegradable. Rigid, good surface finish. Not heat or UV resistant.
Standard Resin
SLA · Shore D 78
Smooth surface, fine detail. Good for visual prototypes and concept models.
Tough 2K
SLA · Shore D 76
ABS-like toughness with SLA detail. Functional prototypes that need impact resistance.
PETG
FDM · Shore D 74
Tough, chemical resistant, food-safe options. Good balance of strength and flexibility.
Nylon PA12
MJF · Shore D 73
Strong, lightweight, chemical resistant. The standard for functional end-use parts. Excellent fatigue resistance and consistent mechanical properties.
Common parts
What we build for hardware development
Built in our factory
Brooklyn, NY
How it works
Your project, step by step
Concept stage
Upload your first CAD file. We produce concept models in PLA or Standard Resin within 2–3 days. Test form factor, basic ergonomics, and stakeholder alignment.
Functional prototyping
Switch to Tough 2K, PETG, or Nylon PA12 for functional testing. Same file upload process, same engineer, faster iteration than any other manufacturing method.
Design verification
Produce DVT builds in production-representative materials. Quantities of 10–50 parts for internal testing, compliance testing, and user studies.
Pilot production
Scale to 50–500 parts for PVT and early customer shipments. Batch QA ensures consistency across the pilot run.
Production
Scale to 500–5,000+ parts per order. Locked process parameters, batch tracking, and scheduled deliveries matched to your sales velocity.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I really go from prototype to production with one vendor?
Yes. We produce concept models, functional prototypes, design verification builds, pilot runs, and production parts — all in-house, with the same materials and quality process. Many of our customers start with a single prototype and scale to thousands of production parts over 6–18 months.
What if my design changes during development?
Upload the new file and we print the updated geometry on your next order. No retooling, no scrap, no delay. This is standard — we expect designs to evolve throughout development.
How do you handle NDA and IP protection?
We execute NDAs before receiving files as standard practice. Your design files are stored securely and never shared with other customers or third parties.
What is the cost progression from prototype to production?
Per-part cost decreases as quantity increases. A single PLA prototype might cost $5–$15. A batch of 100 Nylon PA12 production parts will cost less per part. A run of 1,000 parts costs less again. We provide per-part pricing at each volume tier so you can plan your budget across development stages.
Do you work with startups that do not have high volumes yet?
Yes — startups are a core part of our business. No minimum order quantities, no setup fees. Start with one prototype, scale as your product grows. Many of our largest production customers started as single-prototype startup accounts.
Can I get samples in multiple materials to compare?
Yes. We regularly produce the same part in 2-4 different materials so teams can compare feel, strength, weight, and surface finish side by side. This is one of the most valuable steps in early hardware development.
What industries do your hardware development customers come from?
Consumer electronics, robotics, medical devices, IoT, wearables, industrial equipment, and clean energy. We work with any team building physical products that need prototyping and production parts in engineering-grade materials.
Other applications
Rapid Prototyping
Functional prototypes in 2–3 business days. Test form, fit, and function before committing to tooling.
Production Parts
Production-grade 3D printed parts at volume — without tooling investment.
Large Format 3D Printing
Single pieces up to 1200mm — or seamless multi-part assemblies at any scale.
Tooling & Fixtures
Custom jigs, fixtures, and assembly aids — delivered in days, not weeks.
Bridge Manufacturing
Ship real product now. Transition to injection molding when you are ready.
Replacement & Spare Parts
Reproduce legacy parts, replace obsolete components, and eliminate spare parts inventory.
Custom Enclosures
Custom enclosures with snap-fits, bosses, and ventilation — production-grade, no tooling.
Low Volume Manufacturing
Manufacture 10 to 5,000 parts without tooling — scale up or down order by order.
Presentation Models & Props
Presentation-quality models, trade show props, and display pieces — finished and delivered on time.
Casting Patterns
3D printed casting patterns — clean burnout, fine detail, no traditional pattern tooling.
Medical & Anatomical Models
Anatomical models, surgical planning aids, and medical training tools — dimensionally accurate.
End-Use Consumer Products
Ship real products to real customers — without injection mold tooling.
Design Verification & Testing
DVT and EVT builds in production-representative materials — validate before you tool.
Product Design Validation
Test form, fit, and function with production-grade materials before committing to tooling.
Investor Samples
Presentation-quality parts that look and feel like the final product — built for boardrooms, pitch decks, and demo days.
Pre-Production Testing
Validate tolerances, material behavior, and assembly flow at low volume before committing to production.
Jigs and Fixtures
Custom tooling for your production line — printed and delivered in days, not weeks.
End-Use Production Parts
Parts that go directly into products your customers buy and use — not prototypes, not samples.
Supply Chain Supplementation
Fill gaps in your supply chain without retooling or waiting months for overseas shipments.
Low-Volume Serial Production
Hundreds to thousands of identical parts — no MOQ from a mold shop, no tooling investment.
Replacement Parts Programs
On-demand spares for legacy and current products — without warehousing inventory.
Architectural Models
Site models, facade studies, and presentation pieces at true scale — printed whole or assembled seamless.
Trade Show Builds
Oversized displays and product replicas built to withstand transport and handling — show-ready finish.
Industrial Housings and Enclosures
Full-size prototypes of panels, covers, and housings — validate before committing to sheet metal or tooling.
Tooling and Molds
Large-format mold masters and lay-up tools — printed faster than machined.
Props and Set Pieces
Camera-ready props for film, TV, and commercial production — on tight timelines.
Wind Tunnel Models
Dimensionally accurate aerodynamic test models at scale — smooth surfaces, tight tolerances.
Legacy Part Replacement
Reverse-engineer and reproduce discontinued parts from scans or drawings — no original tooling needed.
Part Consolidation
Combine multi-part assemblies into single printed components — fewer parts, fewer failure points.
Lightweighting
Topology optimization and lattice structures — cut weight without cutting strength.
Manufacturability Analysis
Evaluate your design for printability before committing to a production run.
Scan-to-CAD
Point cloud in, watertight solid out — production-ready CAD from any 3D scan.
Tooling Design
Custom jigs, fixtures, and mold masters — designed from scratch for additive manufacturing.
Fixture Optimization
Redesign production fixtures to reduce weight, improve ergonomics, and speed up assembly.
Insights
Related reading
Production
Rapid Prototyping: Faster, Cheaper, and More Flexible Product Development
How rapid prototyping with 3D printing accelerates product development, reduces costs, and enables faster iteration from proof of concept to production validation.
Materials
Choosing Materials for 3D Printing: PETG vs ABS
A detailed comparison of PETG and ABS for 3D printing, covering ease of printing, strength, chemical resistance, cost, speed, post-processing, and environmental impact.
Materials
Choosing Materials for 3D Printing: PETG vs PLA
A comprehensive guide comparing PETG and PLA for 3D printing, analyzing strength, durability, chemical resistance, cost, printing speed, and real-world applications.
Plan Your Project
Tools to plan your build
Check shipping transit times, estimate lead times by technology, and review design guidelines before you upload — so your parts print right the first time.
Check Transit Time
Enter your zip code to see how fast parts arrive from our Brooklyn facility.
Ready to start your hardware development project?
Upload your CAD file and get a quote in minutes — or talk to our engineers about your next production run.