How to choose a 3D printing service for prototypes.

Start with the job the prototype must do

Before choosing a process, define what the prototype has to prove: form, fit, function, or all three. A visual concept model has very different demands to a load-bearing engineering test part or a device intended for user trials. Getting this right in the brief is the single biggest cost lever in additive manufacturing.

FDM — the workhorse for form and fit

Fused Deposition Modelling extrudes engineering thermoplastics (PLA, PETG, ABS, PC, nylon, carbon-filled composites). It is the most cost-effective route for larger parts, jigs, fixtures and functional prototypes where surface finish is secondary to strength and dimensional stability. Choose FDM when unit cost, part size or ruggedness dominate the brief.

SLA / Resin — for fine detail and smooth surfaces

Stereolithography cures photopolymer resin layer by layer with a laser or LCD. It excels at high-resolution detail, watertight geometries and smooth as-printed surfaces — ideal for jewellery masters, dental appliances, miniature architecture and presentation models. Resin parts are typically less tough than sintered nylon or FDM engineering plastics, so avoid SLA for parts under sustained mechanical load.

SLS Nylon — isotropic strength, complex geometry

Selective Laser Sintering fuses nylon powder without support structures, producing near-isotropic parts with excellent mechanical properties. It's the right call for complex geometry, living hinges, snap-fits and end-use prototypes that must survive real-world use.

MJF — consistent small production runs

HP Multi Jet Fusion delivers dense, uniform nylon parts with better repeatability than SLS at scale. Reach for MJF when you're graduating from prototype to bridge production, or need 20–500 identical units with consistent surface finish.

Metal DMLS — when the prototype must be the part

Direct Metal Laser Sintering prints titanium, stainless steel and Inconel for aerospace, medical and high-temperature applications. It's the highest-cost option per part; use it when the prototype must be made from the production alloy, or when geometry (internal cooling channels, lattice structures) rules out subtractive methods.

Decision checklist

• Load-bearing end-use test? SLS, MJF or DMLS.
• Fine cosmetic detail? SLA.
• Lowest cost, largest volume? FDM.
• Bridge production of 20–500? MJF.
• Must be metal? DMLS.

What a good service will ask you

A capable partner won't just quote your STL. Expect questions about intended use, environment, regulatory context, expected loads and tolerances. If a bureau simply asks for the file and quantity, they're quoting a shape — not a prototype.

Send us the brief and we'll return with material, method and price within one business day. Explore our services and packages to see how we structure engagements.