Tooling is often the bottleneck that slows everything else down. When you’re waiting weeks for a supplier to manufacture a simple fixture, or production is delayed because a jig hasn’t arrived, the knock-on effect can be felt across your entire operation. Production schedules slip, engineers spend valuable time finding workarounds, and opportunities to improve efficiency are lost.

The good news is that you don’t need to invest in expensive tooling or manufacturing equipment to benefit from additive manufacturing.

By outsourcing your tooling requirements to 3D Print Bureau, you can quickly produce jigs, fixtures, drill guides, moulds and manufacturing aids on demand, helping you reduce lead times, lower costs and keep production moving.

Why conventional tooling keeps costing you

Traditional manufacturing methods still have their place, particularly for high-volume production over long periods. But what happens when you need a custom fixture for a new assembly process or a bespoke jig for a short production run?

Conventional manufacturing methods can quickly become expensive. CNC machining, cast aluminium tooling and outsourced fabrication often involve high setup costs and lengthy lead times. If the tool is only required for a limited project or prototype, the return on investment can be difficult to justify.

There are hidden costs too. Delayed tooling can hold up production, while outdated fixtures can increase setup times and reduce operator efficiency. Even a small design modification may require a completely new tool, adding further delays and expense.

Why choose 3D printed tooling?

Faster lead times

With industrial 3D printing, tooling can often be produced in days rather than weeks. Simply send us your CAD file and we’ll manufacture your tooling using industrial-grade additive manufacturing technologies, allowing you to respond quickly to changing production requirements.

Whether you need a one-off fixture or a small batch of manufacturing aids, you’ll receive production-ready parts without the delays associated with traditional manufacturing.

Reduce manufacturing costs

3D printing eliminates many of the setup costs associated with conventional tooling manufacture. This makes it particularly cost-effective for low-volume, bespoke and frequently updated tooling.

Complex features such as lightweight structures, ergonomic grips, internal channels and integrated fixing points can all be incorporated into a single printed part, often reducing both manufacturing costs and assembly time.

Optimise tooling design

Additive manufacturing isn’t constrained by the limitations of machining.

If your tooling would benefit from improved ergonomics, weight reduction or application-specific features, these can be designed directly into the component. Because design iterations are quick and affordable, you can continually improve tooling performance without the cost of remanufacturing from scratch.

Why outsource your 3D printed tooling?

While many manufacturers consider bringing 3D printing in-house, owning industrial equipment isn’t always the most cost-effective solution.

Outsourcing your tooling to an experienced 3D printing bureau gives you immediate access to industrial technologies, engineering expertise and production capacity without the capital investment or ongoing maintenance costs.

By working with 3D Print Bureau, you benefit from:

• No upfront investment in industrial 3D printers
• Access to a wide range of industrial 3D printing technologies and materials
• Expert advice on optimising your designs for additive manufacturing
• Consistent, high-quality production
• Fast turnaround times to keep projects on schedule
• The flexibility to order one-off tools or repeat batches as required

This allows your team to focus on engineering and production while we take care of manufacturing.

Industrial materials for demanding applications

At 3D Print Bureau, we produce tooling using a wide range of engineering-grade materials selected to suit your application.

Whether you require lightweight fixtures, high-strength tooling, heat-resistant components or durable end-use manufacturing aids, we’ll recommend the most appropriate material and printing technology to meet your requirements.

A trusted manufacturing partner

Our experienced team has supported manufacturers across aerospace, automotive, medical, engineering and industrial sectors with high-quality additive manufacturing services.

From initial design advice through to finished production parts, we work closely with you to ensure your tooling performs exactly as intended, helping reduce downtime, improve efficiency and accelerate production.

Ready to reduce tooling costs?

Whether you need a single fixture or ongoing production support, 3D Print Bureau can help you manufacture high-quality tooling quickly and cost-effectively.

Get in touch today to discuss your project or request a quote.