Frequently asked questions
Short, honest answers. Each one links to the page with the full detail.
3D printing
How much does FDM 3D printing cost per gram?
Indicative rates, excluding GST, are about ₹3.13 per gram for PLA and PETG, ₹4.05 per gram for ABS and ₹7.06 per gram for Nylon, plus about ₹18.75 handling per part. The final price depends on your actual file, so treat these as estimates. The per-gram cost guide explains the formula.
Which file formats do you accept?
STL is enough for a print. STEP is better if you also want design changes or a moulding quote later. If you only have a drawing, a sketch or a physical sample, we can model it for you through our design or reverse engineering service.
PLA, PETG or ABS: which should I choose?
PLA for fit checks and display parts, PETG for parts that need toughness and some moisture or chemical resistance, ABS for enclosures that see heat or need to be sanded and painted. Our PLA vs PETG vs ABS guide compares them in detail.
Is your resin printer SLA or DLP?
Our two resin printers use DLP technology, which cures each whole layer at once with a projected image. Most people call all resin printing "SLA", and for a buyer the result is the same kind of part: liquid resin cured by light into a smooth, detailed solid. We list it as SLA so you can find it, and tell you exactly what it is.
How is resin printing priced?
On the volume of resin used and the print height, plus about ₹37.50 handling per part, excluding GST. Height matters because every 0.05 mm layer takes machine time. As an indication, a 50 × 30 × 20 mm bracket costs about ₹136 alone, or about ₹107 each when 10 are printed together.
Why are 10 parts cheaper per piece than one?
Because the build plate is shared. The printer cures a whole layer in the same time whether it holds one part or ten, so a full plate spreads the machine time across more parts. FDM does not get this benefit, which is why resin batch pricing behaves differently.
Injection moulding
How much does an injection mould cost?
It depends on the part size, the number of cavities, whether the part has undercuts (side actions), and the surface finish. A simple single-cavity mould for a small part costs far less than a multi-cavity tool with sliders. We quote every mould individually after a free DFM check. Our pricing page explains what goes into a quote.
What is the minimum order quantity for moulding?
We confirm the minimum run for your part in the quote. Below a few hundred pieces it is usually cheaper to 3D print, and we will tell you so. The break-even guide shows how to work it out.
Who owns the mould?
We agree mould ownership, storage and transfer terms in writing before the mould is built.
At what quantity does injection moulding become cheaper than 3D printing?
At the break-even quantity: mould cost ÷ (printed price per part − moulded price per part). For small simple parts this is often in the hundreds; for large or complex parts it can be in the thousands. It is different for every part, so we calculate it for yours. See the break-even guide.
Why doesn't 3D printing get cheaper at higher quantities?
Because every printed part still uses the same plastic and roughly the same machine time. With 12 printers we can print many parts at once, which shortens delivery but not the cost per part much. Resin printing gets somewhat cheaper in batches because parts share the build plate.
Are 3D-printed parts as strong as moulded parts?
Generally not quite. FDM parts are weaker between layers, while moulded parts are solid and more uniform in every direction. For many covers, brackets and enclosures printed parts are strong enough; for parts under high load or impact, moulding or a tougher print material is safer.
Design & reverse engineering
What is DFM and why does it matter for plastic parts?
Design for manufacturing means shaping a part so it can be made reliably and cheaply by the chosen process. For injection moulding that means even walls, draft, sensible ribs and bosses, and few undercuts. A DFM review before tooling is the cheapest way to avoid expensive mould corrections.
Do you design the whole product or only parts?
Mainly the plastic parts of a product: enclosures, covers, housings, brackets, mechanisms and fixtures, designed around your electronics, PCB or mechanical components. For electronics design, firmware or industrial styling we work with your team or specialists.
What do I need to start?
Anything from a hand sketch with key dimensions to an existing CAD model. Useful extras are your PCB outline or component list, photos of the use environment, the expected quantity and a target cost. We confirm scope and price before starting.
Can you make a part from a broken sample?
Usually, yes. If the broken pieces can be fitted together, or if a second intact part or the mating part is available, we can recover the geometry. Where a feature is completely missing, we work from the mating part, photos or your knowledge of how it fitted.
Do you use a 3D scanner?
We measure parts with calipers, gauges and other hand measuring tools, and model them in CAD to design intent. For most functional plastic parts, careful measurement gives a cleaner, more usable CAD model than a raw scan.
What do I get at the end?
A CAD model of the part (STEP and STL), a test print for you to check, and on request a 2D drawing. You can then order replacements from us by printing or moulding, or keep the files.
Materials
How much does PLA 3D printing cost per gram?
Our quote formula uses about ₹3.13 per gram plus ₹18.75 handling per part, before 18% GST. A 100 × 60 × 30 mm enclosure with 2 mm walls (about 48 g) comes to roughly ₹170. These are indicative figures; the final quote depends on your actual file. See pricing for more examples.
Is PLA strong enough for functional parts?
At what temperature does PLA soften?
Typically from about 55–60 °C. A PLA part left on a car dashboard in an Indian summer, or mounted near a motor or transformer, can sag or warp. For anything warm, move up to PETG, ABS or Nylon.
Will a 3D-printed ABS part behave like the moulded ABS part?
It will be close in heat resistance and chemical behaviour, because it is the same polymer family. It will not be identical in strength: a printed part is weaker between layers, while a moulded part is solid and near-isotropic. Use the print to check fit, assembly and feel, and expect the moulded part to be at least as strong.
How much does ABS 3D printing cost?
Our formula uses about ₹4.05 per gram plus ₹18.75 handling per part, excluding 18% GST. A 100 × 60 × 30 mm enclosure with 2 mm walls comes to about ₹214. These are indicative; the final price depends on your file.
How much does an ABS injection mould cost?
It depends on part size, number of cavities, undercuts and finish, so we quote each mould after a free DFM check. The mould cost guide explains what drives the price.
What is polypropylene used for in moulded parts?
Caps and closures, living-hinge boxes, containers, trays, clips, battery and chemical-contact parts, and many automotive and appliance components. It is chosen for low cost, light weight, chemical resistance and the ability to flex repeatedly.
What is a living hinge and why PP?
A living hinge is a thin, flexible strip moulded in one piece with the two halves it joins, like the lid of a flip-top cap. PP survives a very large number of flex cycles at a thin section, which most other plastics cannot. Hinge design and gate position matter, so we review them in the DFM check.
Have a part to make?
Send a CAD file, drawing, photo or sample. We reply with the right process, a price and a lead time.