3D People For Serial Production
Get thousands of parts within days, made in our UK additive manufacturing facility using industrial-grade materials and finished to the highest standards. Our ISO-certified process ensures consistent quality and on-time delivery.
3D printing for batch production
Additive manufacturing (manufacturing using industrial 3D printers) offers a revolutionary approach to serial production. Here’s why businesses are adopting additive for production:
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✔ No Minimum Order Quantities
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✔ ISO 9001 Certified Process
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✔ Made in our UK Factory
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✔ Pay Later with a Credit Account
Additive manufacturing is ideal for
Small sized components
Additive manufacturing excels in producing small, intricate parts with high precision and fine detail, making it an excellent choice for projects requiring compact and complex components.
Low number of units
For projects with lower production volumes, additive manufacturing offers cost-effective and efficient solutions without the need for expensive molds or tooling, providing flexibility and reducing lead times.
Urgent demand
Additive manufacturing significantly reduces production time, allowing for rapid turnaround and delivery, making it ideal for projects with tight deadlines and urgent needs.
4 steps for your production run
Initial Consultation
Meet with one of our additive manufacturing specialists to discuss your project requirements, goals, and timelines. We will gather all the necessary information to understand your specific needs and provide expert advice on the best approach for your project.
Produce Samples
Submit your 3D design files for review. We will create a sample to verify that your design and our production methods are suitable for your application. Once approved, we provide a detailed quote based on the final design, manufacturing specifications, production volume, and lead time.
Additive Production
After placing your order, we start production using our industrial 3D printers. Our UK-based facility handles production volumes efficiently using advanced software and equipment. Quality checks are conducted throughout the process to ensure timely delivery and ensure quality.
Quality Inspection
Before dispatch, each order undergoes thorough quality checks to ensure it meets your specifications and our quality standards. We perform detailed inspections to verify dimensions, surface finish, and overall quality. Once complete, your order is packaged and ready for delivery.
Initial Consultation
Meet with one of our additive manufacturing specialists to discuss your project requirements, goals, and timelines. We will gather all the necessary information to understand your specific needs and provide expert advice on the best approach for your project.
Produce Samples
Submit your 3D design files for review. We will create a sample to verify that your design and our production methods are suitable for your application. Once approved, we provide a detailed quote based on the final design, manufacturing specifications, production volume, and lead time.
Additive Production
After placing your order, we start production using our industrial 3D printers. Our UK-based facility handles production volumes efficiently using advanced software and equipment. Quality checks are conducted throughout the process to ensure timely delivery and ensure quality.
Quality Inspection
Before dispatch, each order undergoes thorough quality checks to ensure it meets your specifications and our quality standards. We perform detailed inspections to verify dimensions, surface finish, and overall quality. Once complete, your order is packaged and ready for delivery.
Success story:
Custom enclosures for security systems
MarineGuard used additive manufacturing to create bespoke enclosures for marine security systems, enhancing system performance and customer satisfaction.
Sensor Housings
Material: PA12 Nylon (SLS)
Finish: Black Dye + Vibro Polish
Why businesses choose additive manufacturing
Cost savings
Eliminate the need for expensive tooling setup and moulds, making low-volume production runs affordable.
Rapid turnaround
Start production immediately using additive to produce parts directly from digital models, eliminating tooling and moulds.
Design freedom
Use 3D printing to manufacture complex parts that are expensive or impossible to make any other way.
Design alterations
Make slight design changes after production has begun or between batches without any additional charge.
Mass customisation
Easily customise each part without additional costs, ideal for serialisation or personalised products.
Call-off orders
Benefit from call-off orders, receiving large quantity orders in smaller, manageable batches as they are produced.
Key Benefits of 3D Printed Production
No set-up costs
No initial investment is required for 3D Printing as there is no need for injection mould tooling or CNC programming. Our unit price is the only price you pay with some volume discounts.
Express lead times
Receive parts in as little as 2 days using our express service. This is a significant advantage over IM where it can take many weeks to receive parts.
Flexible manufacturing
Update designs after manufacturing has begun for no additional fee. Use 3D printing to launch your product earlier in development. Continue developing while customers are giving real world feedback.
Popular materials used for additive production:
PA12 Nylon (SLS)
+ Vibro Polishing
This robust thermoplastic delivers excellent mechanical properties and a smooth surface. Vibro Polish results in a smooth, white base that can be dyed in various colours, perfect for distinguished end-use components.
PA12 Nylon (SLS)
+ Colour Dye
Embellish your SLS parts with vibrant colour, enhance the tactile feel and increase resistance to dirt and scratches. Elevate your projects with a wider selection of vibrant and diverse colours.
PA12 Nylon (MJF)
+ Vapour Smoothing
This resilient thermoplastic offers outstanding mechanical properties, enhanced by Vapour Smoothing. The process yields a smooth, sealed surface with a deep black finish, achieving a quality close to injection moulding.
PA12 Nylon (SLS)
+ Vibro Polishing
This robust thermoplastic delivers excellent mechanical properties and a smooth surface. Vibro Polish results in a smooth, white base that can be dyed in various colours, perfect for distinguished end-use components.
PA12 Nylon (SLS)
+ Colour Dye
Embellish your SLS parts with vibrant colour, enhance the tactile feel and increase resistance to dirt and scratches. Elevate your projects with a wider selection of vibrant and diverse colours.
PA12 Nylon (MJF)
+ Vapour Smoothing
This resilient thermoplastic offers outstanding mechanical properties, enhanced by Vapour Smoothing. The process yields a smooth, sealed surface with a deep black finish, achieving a quality close to injection moulding.
Volume Considerations for 3D Printing
The cost-effectiveness of 3D printing depends on part size, design complexity, and production volume.
Intricate or small components remain cost-effective up to thousands of units. However, larger parts may become uneconomical after just a few dozen or hundreds of units.
Low volume and batch manufacturing FAQ
Do you offer volume discounts for 3D printing?
Yes, we provide tiered volume discounts. These are automatically applied in our Online Quote Tool when ordering two or more of the same file. The discounts are:
- 5% for 2+ units
- 10% for 10+ units
- 15% for 50+ units
- 20% for 100+ units
- 30% for 250+ units
- 35% for 1000+ units
Can I order a sample before proceeding with a 3D printing production run?
Before proceeding with a batch production run, we recommend ordering a sample print to ensure the manufacturing process meets your requirements. We offer a refund on the cost of a single production sample when a subsequent batch order is placed using the same 3D file.
To qualify for a refund:
- The value of the batch order must exceed £1,000 (excluding VAT and shipping).
- The sample and batch must use the same 3D file without modification.
- The refund amount will be limited to the cost of a single sample, up to our minimum order value, and does not include shipping charges.
- Refund requests must be submitted via email to print@3dpeople.uk with the relevant order details.
Refunds are processed once the qualifying batch order is received and confirmed. This policy is intended to support verification of print quality and fit for purpose prior to large-scale production.
Is 3D printing cheaper than injection molding?
3D printing is typically more cost-effective for lower volume orders, as there are no start-up costs. In contrast, injection moulding becomes more affordable for higher quantities despite the large initial investment required to create the tooling.
What materials are recommended for 3D printing production runs?
For low-volume production runs, we recommend PA12 Nylon (SLS) for smaller components and PA12 Nylon (MJF) for medium-sized parts.
Can I change the design after 3D printed production has already started?
One of the advantages of 3D printing is its flexibility. While we can’t replace parts that have already been manufactured, you’re welcome to update your design for subsequent units. Design changes are free of charge, provided they do not significantly affect the geometry. If your updated design impacts production cost, we’ll inform you in advance and provide an updated quote.
Can 3D printing be used for mass production?
3D printing is chosen for mass production when the product requires unique manufacturing attributes that only this technology can provide, such as intricate designs or bespoke, custom-made orders. For example, products like Adidas Futurecraft or Invisalign aligners.
How can 3D printing be used in manufacturing?
3D printing offers a plethora of advantages in the manufacturing realm:
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Low volume production: This is cost-effective, especially for smaller components, as it avoids the large upfront costs associated with other manufacturing methods.
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Rapid production: 3D printing can meet urgent demand, without the need forcomplex design for manufacture preparations or tool setups.
- Design complexity: 3D printing can produce designs that are impossible or fabricate with other manufacturing methods.
- Customisation: 3D printing is ideal for producing custom, made-to-order parts.
- Efficiency: Manufacturers use 3D printing to create tools, jigs, and fixtures that enhance the production line’s efficiency.