Below the tooling threshold: print instead of mould
Brackets, covers, clips and spare parts in quantities where an injection mould does not pay – with first article, sampling and repeat orders from the same file.
When printing beats moulding
An injection mould costs up front; a printed part costs the same every time. Small lots, frequent changes and many variants therefore favour printing. If your quantity justifies a mould, we tell you – even if we then do not print.
- No up-front cost for tooling
- A change costs a new file, not a new mould
- Variants in the same lot, e.g. left and right
How a lot runs
First article
One part in series material and settings, for your approval.
Approval
File, material and settings are fixed on the article.
Production
Printing, support removal, inserts – planned separately.
Inspection
Sampling to DIN ISO 2859-1, report in the box.
Repeat
Next lot from the same file.
Small series and spare parts
At what quantity does injection moulding pay?
There is no fixed threshold: it depends on part size, tooling cost, change frequency and run time. Send us the model and annual quantity – we price the print and tell you openly if a mould would be cheaper.
What tolerances are realistic?
In FDM typically ±0.1 mm up to 50 mm, above that ±0.2 %. Tighter dimensions through post-processing, e.g. reamed holes. We check critical dimensions on the first article.
Spare parts that are no longer available?
We measure and model simple geometries from your sample part; freeform surfaces need a STEP file. The file stays with your article for the next order.
Quantity in, price per part out
Send model and quantity; the quotation comes usually within two working days.