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Automotive

From rapid prototypes to rugged, race-ready components, we help your teams design, test, and deliver high-quality 3D printed automotive parts at pace. We specialise in ad-hoc and low-volume jobs, turning your files into functional parts in a matter of days, not weeks.

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Why the automotive industry uses 3D printing

Rapid prototyping

Quickly iterate and test your designs to accelerate the development of your products.

Bespoke & custom parts

Create one-off parts or short runs that are tailored to a specific chassis, trim level, or race weekend.

Lightweighting

Produce complex, topology-optimised geometries that reduce weight and boost your vehicle’s efficiency.

Performance gains

Enhance aerodynamics, airflow, and thermal behaviour with integrated channels and lattice structures.

Cost-effective low volumes

Avoid the costs that come with tooling and the long lead times for spares, jigs, and replacement parts.

What we 3D print for
automotive & motorsport

Prototypes

  • Exterior trims, mirror housings, and grille inserts
  • Interior fascias, switchgear, and HVAC ducts
  • Lighting lenses and bezels (clear/translucent)

Tooling & manufacturing aids

  • Drill guides, bonding fixtures, and assembly jigs
  • Composite lay-up tools and trim tools
  • Check gauges and CMM fixtures

Spares, replacements & end-use parts

  • Ducting, plenums, and cooling manifolds
  • Brackets, clips, sensor mounts, and harness retainers
  • Paddle shifters, steering wheel grips, and pedal interfaces
  • Pit-lane ancillaries including wheel nut sockets, gun holsters, 
and hole brackets

Our 3D printing processes & materials

FDM (industrial fused-filament) materials

  • ULTEM 9085 for interior components and aerospace-inspired structures
  • Nylon 12CF for stiff, lightweight tooling and brackets
  • ABS ESD7, ASA, PC, and PC ABS for robust jigs and exterior-grade components

PolyJet materials

  • Digital ABS Plus for high-definition, tough prototypes and snap-fits
  • Agilus 30 in multiple Shore A values for gaskets, seals, and tactile grips
  • Transparent resins for lenses, fluid-flow visualisation, and light-pipe studies

SLA (stereolithography) materials

  • Somos resins for smooth, highly detailed parts with excellent surface quality
  • Perfect for aerodynamic wind tunnel models, fluid flow testing, and lighting prototypes
  • Excellent choice when verifying form, fit and airflow behaviour at scale

PBF (powder bed fusion) materials

  • Nylon PA11 for air intake manifolds, brackets, and other lightweight components
  • Nylon PA12 for housings, clips, ducting, and cable management features
  • Well-suited for complex ducting, housings, structural components, and functional prototypes

Quality you can rely on

Need to 3D print automotive parts fast? At 3D Print Bureau, we ensure that every part is delivered to the highest standards, with the pinpoint accuracy and high-quality finish the automotive sector demands.

Our prints are precise enough for gauge-fit prototypes and fixtures, giving your engineers confidence in their testing and validation work. To make sure every part is ready for use, we also provide finishing options such as thread inserts, vapour smoothing, blasting, dyeing or painting, labelling and sub-assembly.

Behind each build is full traceability. We work with documented processes, use certified materials, and share practical DFM feedback so your team can rely on the data and performance. We also operate under NDAs with OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and race teams to protect sensitive designs and intellectual property.

How it works

1. Upload your CAD files (STEP, IGES, STL) along with your requirements

2. We optimise the design and provide a quote that includes the process, material, lead time, and price

3. Once approved, we print and finish the part, carrying out quality checks along the way

4. You fit and test the component, completing a quick design loop for faster development

Typical lead time: 2-5 working days • Same-day delivery available for urgent jobs

3D printed automotive parts in action

See how J.W. Speaker 3D printed 
high-performance vehicle lighting components using FDM Nylon-CF10 
on a Stratasys F370CR.

View case study

Frequently asked questions

Yes. PolyJet can deliver painted, textured show models that replicate the look and feel of production parts. It is also capable of producing clear lenses that support optical studies, helping engineers to evaluate light behaviour, fluid flow, or visual appearance before committing to tooling.

Yes, as long as you use the right material and print orientation. For example, FDM in ULTEM 9085 or Nylon CF produces stiff, heat-resistant parts that are suitable for functional brackets, upper-bonnet ducts, and load-bearing fixtures. We can also incorporate inserts and optimise build orientation to strengthen parts in critical areas.

Automotive parts are often exposed to elevated temperatures, chemicals, and sunlight that can quickly degrade unsuitable plastics. We’ll specify materials with the necessary chemical and thermal resistance, such as ULTEM or ASA, for under-bonnet and exterior parts. We also offer additional post-processing like sealing or painting to extend service life even further.

Yes. With our large-format FDM platforms, we can produce sizeable components such as bumper sections, dashboard prototypes, or bigger tooling fixtures. These builds are created in durable thermoplastics and can be split into sub-assembles if needed, allowing for accurate scale models or functional prototypes of large vehicle parts.