Prototypes · 2026
Rapid prototyping with 3D printing: from idea to part
How do you make a prototype with 3D printing, and what does it cost?
You send the 3D model (ideally as a STEP file) and a maker prints the part in hours, not weeks: a small FDM part costs about €10 and a medium case or cover about €12, excluding VAT and shipping, with about 2 hours of machine time. The technology depends on what you want to test: form, fit or function. Most projects go through several versions before anyone pays for a mould. On Fabrishare, a network of makers, you post the project for free and get offers within 24–48 hours.
Which kind of prototype do you need?
A prototype answers a question. Depending on the question, the technology and material change:
| Prototype | What it tests | Technology and material | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form and appearance | Size, ergonomics, how it looks and feels in the hand | Resin for a smooth surface and detail; FDM for large parts | Tells you nothing about strength |
| Fit | Whether parts fit together and with what already exists | FDM in PETG, or standard resin | In FDM, leave 0.2–0.5 mm clearance per side |
| Functional | Whether it survives use: load, heat, clips, hinges | PETG, ASA or ABS; nylon (SLS or MJF) for clips and hinges; TPU for flexible parts | A printed part doesn't behave exactly like a moulded one: test with a margin |
| Presentation | Photos, trade shows, investors, a campaign | Resin, sanded, primed and painted | The finish is quoted separately from the print |
Reference prices: a part, a case and a run
Ballpark prices for the whole job, excluding VAT and shipping, from the Fabrishare calculator. A small FDM part takes about 20 minutes of machine time; a medium case, about 2 hours. That's why correcting a prototype and reprinting it is quick and cheap. If the maker has to model the part, the design is charged separately and shown in their offer.
| Part | Technology | Range | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small spare part (bracket, clip) | FDM | €6 – €17 | €10 |
| Medium case or cover | FDM | €7 – €19 | €12 |
| Run of 100 small parts | FDM | €219 – €585 | €365 |
Large FDM parts have no ballpark price: they depend on machine hours and on whether they're printed in one piece or several. Each maker gives you theirs after seeing the file.
How do you iterate a prototype until it's right?
The point of printing is that mistakes are cheap. Most projects go version by version:
- 1
Version 1: check the dimensions
A quick, cheap print, often in PLA or standard resin, to check size, shape and whether it fits with what already exists.
- 2
Version 2: in the intended material
With the corrections, in the material the part will actually have (PETG, ASA, nylon…) to test the function for real.
- 3
User testing
Several identical units to assemble, hand out or load-test. Order them in the same project: it's cheaper than one by one.
- 4
Pre-series or mould
Once the design is frozen, you decide: keep printing in runs (100 small FDM parts work out at about €3.65 each) or pay for an injection mould, which only pays off over thousands of parts.
How accurate is a 3D printed prototype?
Accurate enough to test fits, as long as you allow for how each technology works:
FDM (filament)
Deviations of 0.1 to 0.3 mm are normal. Where something has to fit inside, leave 0.2 to 0.5 mm clearance per side. The part is weaker between layers than along them: if it takes load, say in which direction so the maker can orient it on the printer.
Resin
More detail and a smoother surface, with tighter clearances. Resin can shrink or warp slightly as it cures, especially in long, thin parts: for those, FDM or nylon is better. Standard resin is brittle; for clips and parts that flex there are tough resins.
Nylon in SLS or MJF
No supports, with strong, repeatable parts: a good option for clips, hinges and moving from prototype to production. Fewer makers own these machines, so you may get fewer offers.
What to send when you order a prototype
- 1
The file, ideally STEP
A STEP file keeps the exact dimensions and the maker can tweak a clearance without remodelling the part. An STL prints just as well.
- 2
What you want to test
Form, fit, function or presentation. That tells the maker which technology and material to use, and stops you paying for a finish you don't need.
- 3
The final part's material
If the final part will be moulded in ABS or nylon, say so: the prototype can get close to how it will behave.
- 4
Units and versions
How many units you want of this version and whether you expect more. And the deadline: if it's urgent, say so in the project.
Prototypes in the network
Of the 110 requests registered between May and October 2026, 5 were prototypes and technical parts: 3 in FDM and 2 in resin, all with a file. One asked for 21 to 100 units and another for a lead time under 3 days.
Your design, protected while you get quotes
While offers are being made, makers see the technical details and an image of the part, but not who you are or how to contact you, and they can't download the file. Only the maker whose offer you accept receives it. If you need a non-disclosure agreement, agree it with them before accepting.
3D printing for businessCases and covers
For your own board or a device: clearances, brass inserts, ventilation and seals.
Custom electronics enclosuresFrom tens to hundreds of parts
Once the prototype is frozen, the same part in a run, with a sample approved first.
Small batch 3D printing: prices and how to orderStamps and moulds
One request was a set of negative stamps for silver clay: a small technical part, in resin.
3D printed jewelleryParts that live outdoors
If the prototype has to cope with sun, heat or water, the material changes.
Parts for outdoor use: which material lastsNo 3D model yet
From drawings, a dimensioned sketch or a part to copy, some makers model in 3D; it's quoted separately.
No STL file?
How to order your prototype
- 1Post your project for free with the file (ideally STEP), what you want to test, the intended material and how many units you need.
- 2Makers in the network send you their offer with price, technology and lead time within 24–48 hours.
- 3You compare, choose, and the maker prints and ships the part. For the next version, repeat with the corrected file.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 3D printed prototype cost?
A small FDM part costs between €6 and €17 (typically €10) and a medium case or cover about €12, excluding VAT and shipping. If it has to be modelled, the design is extra. Large parts are quoted by each maker after seeing the file.
How long does a prototype take?
Offers arrive within 24–48 hours. Printing a small part takes about 20 minutes of machine time and a medium case about 2 hours; each offer states the total lead time including shipping. If it's urgent, say so in the project.
Resin or FDM for a prototype?
Resin to test form and appearance, with a smooth surface and fine detail. FDM for large parts and to test fit and function in materials such as PETG or ASA. For clips, hinges and runs, nylon in SLS or MJF.
Which material for a functional prototype?
PETG for most everyday parts (it softens around 70 °C), ASA or ABS if it gets hot or goes outdoors (around 90–100 °C), nylon for clips and hinges, and TPU for flexible parts. PLA, which softens around 55 °C, only for checking dimensions.
How accurate is a printed part?
In FDM, deviations of 0.1 to 0.3 mm; in resin and in SLS or MJF, usually less. For fits, leave 0.2–0.5 mm clearance per side in FDM and order a test first.
STEP or STL?
STEP: it keeps exact dimensions and can be edited without remodelling, which helps when you iterate. An STL prints just as well but is harder to modify.
Can other makers see or copy my design?
While offers are being made, they see the technical details and an image of the part, but not who you are, and they can't download the file. Only the maker whose offer you accept receives it. If you need a non-disclosure agreement, agree it with them before accepting.
Can I order several units of the prototype?
Yes, from one part to a run: the price per part drops with quantity, and 100 small FDM parts work out at about €3.65 each. One of the registered prototype requests asked for 21 to 100 units.
What if I don't have a 3D model?
From drawings, a dimensioned sketch or a part to copy, some makers model in 3D or scan. The design is quoted separately and shown in the offer.