Applications
Product development — CAD to part, weeks not months
Iteration speed matters more than any single decision. We move from CAD to physical model to refined design in days per loop — so you finish a development cycle in weeks, not two quarters.
Iterations to production
- 1You send CAD, sketch, or a reference — plus the problem
- 2Engineering review, DFMA feedback, material recommendation
- 3Iteration loop: print, test, refine — 2–7 days per cycle
- 4Pre-production part validated, ready for short run or moulding
Quick answer
Product development at 3DadditHub uses additive manufacturing to compress the design-to-part loop from months into days. We offer three engagement models: design + manufacture, manufacture-only if your CAD is ready, or design-only review with DFMA feedback. Typical cycle is 3–5 physical iterations across 4–10 weeks. We focus on engineering — not industrial design or branding.
What this covers
What we help with
Engineering support around 3D printing — from concept to pre-production.
- CAD from sketch, hand model, spec document or reference product
- Design review and DFMA feedback on your existing CAD
- Material selection for load, temperature, chemicals, UV, food-contact
- Rapid prototyping across FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF and metal
- Iterative fit-check, functional-test and pre-production samples
- Jig, fixture, gauge and factory-tooling design
- Small-scale production of the validated design (10–1,000 units)
- Bridge-to-moulding strategy: run first with 3D print, tool later
- Assembly integration: inserts, threads, over-moulding, hardware
How it works
A short, honest development loop
Kick-off
You share the problem, target user, deadline, and any existing files. We agree engagement scope and NDA.
Concept & review
CAD or DFMA review inside a week. First printable version defined with process and material.
Iterate physically
Print, test, refine. Each loop is 2–7 days. We stop when the part passes your acceptance criteria.
Manufacture
Short run, bridge production, or handover files ready for moulding. Your choice, your IP.
Materials & processes
Prototype in what will ship
- FDM in PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA — cheap and fast for early fit-check
- SLA / DLP resin — visual, high-detail and cosmetic prototypes
- SLS / MJF PA12 — functional prototypes matching production behaviour
- Polycarbonate and PC-ABS — impact and temperature testing
- ULTEM 9085 / 1010 — high-performance validation
- TPU 95A — flexible and elastomeric parts
- Metal DMLS / SLM — proof-of-concept in production alloys
Not sure which process to prototype in? Tell us the part and the test you want to run — we will suggest FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF, metal or none. If 3D printing is not the right answer for your part, we will say so.
Typical case
Startup medical-device housing, from CAD to CE-ready in 9 weeks
A medtech startup came to us with a first CAD of an outer housing for a non-invasive diagnostic device. The internal PCB was evolving weekly and they needed physical shells for user testing before locking a moulded design.
Over 9 weeks we ran 4 iterations — SLA for cosmetic review, then two rounds of MJF PA12 for functional and drop-test validation, and a final pre-production batch of 30 units in polished PA12 for external CE-related user testing. The customer then went to moulding with confidence, having burned zero tooling money on a design that would have needed three revisions.
Vs alternatives
Where we fit — and where we don't
Come to us for
- Mechanical / functional part development
- Jigs, fixtures and factory tooling
- Enclosures, housings and structural prototypes
- Bridge production before moulding
- DFMA review of your existing CAD
Go elsewhere for
- UX research and user interviews
- Brand identity, packaging and graphic design
- Full industrial-design creative direction
- Electronics (PCB) design and firmware
- Regulatory / certification consulting
FAQ
Common questions about product development with 3D printing
Yes — we can produce CAD from a sketch, a hand model, a specification document, or a reference product you want to improve on. Our sweet spot is turning an existing concept into a manufacturable part; we are not a full-service industrial design agency, so branding and UX research are not our thing.
Have an idea? Send it.
CAD, sketch, spec, or a reference product — we take it from there. First engineering feedback within 24 hours.