Practical information for people who need functional parts, not just pretty objects. Material comparisons, design tips, file preparation and more.
Choosing between PETG and PLA, where PETG is the right answer, and how FDM printing actually works.
Which filament is better for parts that must work? A plain-English comparison of PETG and PLA: heat, strength, moisture and when to use each.
Read guide →PETG handles vehicle interior heat and resists oils and moisture, but it has limits. Where PETG works in automotive use, and where it does not.
Read guide →A plain-English explanation of Fused Deposition Modelling: how it works, what it can and cannot do, and why it suits functional parts.
Read guide →What to do when the part is discontinued and all you have is the broken one.
Cracked, warped or incomplete, your part can still be measured. How to get usable dimensions for modelling or ordering a replacement.
Read guide →You have a snapped piece of plastic and nothing else. How we measure it, draw it and print a replacement, and what it adds to the price.
Read guide →Vertical blind clips, roller end caps, shutter brackets and slat hangers that are not sold separately. What prints well and what to send.
Read guide →Friction stays, espag handles, trickle vent covers and letterbox flaps. What is worth printing, and when a universal part is the better buy.
Read guide →Exporting cleanly, what tolerance to expect, and what to do when a part is too big for the printer.
How to export, check and optimise an STL before sending it to print, and the common mistakes that cause failures or poor results.
Read guide →Step-by-step instructions for exporting an STL file from Autodesk Fusion 360, including the settings that matter for 3D printing quality.
Read guide →What dimensional accuracy can you expect from FDM printing? A practical guide to tolerances, designing for them, and when to test first.
Read guide →If your part is bigger than the printer build volume, it needs to be split. Here's how to do it sensibly — where to cut, how to join, and what to avoid.
Read guide →Brackets that hold, workshop fixtures that earn their keep, and when printing beats moulding.
The design choices that decide whether a 3D printed bracket holds or fails: print orientation, wall thickness, gussets and bolt holes.
Read guide →What a printed jig is genuinely good for, how long one lasts in production, what a one-off costs, and when to use metal instead.
Read guide →For small quantities, which makes more sense? A practical comparison of cost, lead time, minimum quantity and materials under 500 units.
Read guide →What to bring, what it costs, how long it takes and what we turn down.
Where UK law sits on reproducing a spare part, and the rules we work to.