Hold your idea in your hands this week
In-house 3D printing, driven by an engineer instead of an upload form. We don't just print your file — we check it, flag what won't work, and iterate with you until the part does its job.
What we print
- Functional prototypes — parts you can test, assemble, and demo to customers or investors. See custom prototyping.
- Replacement parts — brackets, knobs, housings, and fittings that are discontinued or impossible to source.
- Fixtures & jigs — shop aids that make your production line faster and more repeatable.
- Short-run parts — small production quantities where tooling doesn't make sense yet.
Materials, in plain language
Material choice decides whether a part survives its job, and it's the first thing an engineer checks on every order. The short version of what we run:
- PLA — crisp detail and low cost. Right for form models, visual prototypes, and indoor parts that never see heat or hard knocks.
- PETG — the workhorse. Tough, slightly flexible, moisture- and chemical-resistant; our default for brackets, housings, and everyday functional parts.
- ABS / ASA — heat tolerance and outdoor durability. ASA shrugs off UV, so it's the pick for parts living on vehicles, trailers, and equipment that stays outside.
- TPU (flexible) — rubber-like parts: gaskets, bumpers, grips, vibration mounts, and protective covers.
- Nylon & carbon-fiber nylon — the strong stuff. Wear surfaces, load-bearing brackets, and fixtures that get used hard every shift.
Not sure which one your part needs? That's the point of quoting with an engineer — tell us what the part has to survive and we'll pick, and tell you why.
The difference between us and an upload-and-pray service
Online print bureaus print exactly what you send — including the mistakes. Because we're engineers first, every job here starts with a design review: wall thicknesses, tolerances, material choice, print orientation. If your part won't survive its job, we tell you before it's printed, not after.
And because we're local, you can drop off a sample, pick up parts the same day they finish, and talk to the person who actually made them.
No file? No problem.
Most of our customers don't have a CAD file — they have an idea, a photo, or a broken part in a ziplock bag. Our design service turns that into a printable model first.
3D printing questions, answered
How much does 3D printing cost in South Bend?
Every part is quoted individually based on size, material, and how much design work it needs — there is no flat per-gram rate because an engineer reviews every job. Send a photo, file, or description through our quote form and you will have a real number within one business day, no obligation.
Do I need a CAD file to get a part printed?
No. Most of our customers start with a photo, a sketch, or a broken part in a bag. Our product development service turns that into a printable 3D model first, then we print it in-house.
Can you reproduce a discontinued or broken part?
Yes. We measure the original part, rebuild it as an engineering-grade CAD model, and print a replacement — often improving on the weak point that broke in the first place.
Why use a local shop instead of an online 3D printing service?
Online print bureaus print exactly what you upload, mistakes included. Here an engineer reviews every job first — wall thickness, tolerances, material, orientation — and flags problems before printing. Being in South Bend also means you can drop off a sample part and pick up finished parts the same day they come off the printer.
How fast can I get a printed part?
Simple parts are often in your hands the same week. Your quote includes a specific timeline before we start.