3D Printing
Prototypes ready before your next morning meeting.
Multiple in-house 3D printers turn a design file into a physical part in less than 24 hours.
Low-Cost Prototyping With Real Speed
Crestwood runs multiple 3D printers in house, giving you low cost prototyping with a turnaround no other manufacturing process can match. Parts printed overnight are ready to evaluate the next morning, which means design feedback happens in days instead of months.
A wide range of thermoplastic materials are available, so prototypes can be tested for both form and function, not just how a design looks on screen.
Rapid Prototyping
Wide Material Range
Overnight Turnaround
Faster Design Cycles
Functional, Not Just Visual
3D printed prototypes at Crestwood are built for functional applications under non-critical loads, not just visual mockups. That means you can test fit, function, and assembly before committing to an expensive steel mold, catching design issues while they are still cheap to fix.
3D Printing or Injection Molding? It Comes Down to Volume
| Production Volume | More Cost-Effective Method |
|---|---|
| 1 to 50 parts | 3D Printing |
| 50 to 500 parts | Depends on complexity and material |
| 500 to 5,000 parts | Often Injection Molding |
| 5,000+ parts | Injection Molding |
3D printing carries little upfront cost since there is no mold to build, but the per-part cost stays flat no matter the quantity. Injection molding costs more to tool up front, and gets cheaper per part as volume rises. Many Crestwood programs start with a 3D printed prototype and move to injection molding once the design is locked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can I get a 3D printed prototype?
Parts printed on our desktop 3D printers are usually ready overnight, often in less than 24 hours.
Can 3D printed parts handle functional testing, or just how a design looks?
Our 3D printed parts are suited to functional applications under non-critical loads, so you can test fit and function, not just appearance, before moving to production tooling.
Does 3D printing replace injection molding for production?
No. 3D printing is best used for prototyping and low volume validation. Once a design is confirmed, injection molding remains the more cost effective path for production volumes.
Need a Prototype Fast?
Send us your design file and we will have a printed part in your hands before your next meeting.
GET A QUOTE
