What we do
Print the plug
Large parts, many pulls, or a mold that needs a heated post-cure. You build a real composite mold on the plug.
Big composite plugs, 3D printed in sections.
Upload your CAD and see a price in seconds. We print it, box it, and it goes together at your shop.
Illustration, sped up
Up to 15 × 15 × 5 ftassembled from 10 in sections
Ships in boxesgoes together by hand at your shop
Room-temperature moldsbuild the mold on it, post-cure off it
Get an instant price.
Drop in your CAD file for a ballpark price and lead time, then submit it for a formal quote. The file stays in your browser until you submit.
Example shown: the truck cap plug from the animation, about 5.4 ft long. Drop your file to price your own.
Model not finished? We offer design help through a custom quote.
Ballpark priceExample
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Lead time
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- Part volume
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- Envelope
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- 10 in sections to print
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Launch pricing. Covers the printed plug. Finishing and shipping are quoted with the job.
Example shown. Drop your file above for your own price.
Print the plug or the mold?
For big parts, print the plug. Here's the short version, including when we're not the right call.
Local print shop
Print the mold
Small parts that fit one printer bed, a few pulls, room-temperature cure.
Machine shop
Machine it
Tolerances in the thousandths of an inch.
Not sure? Answer four quick questions
Recommended
Print the plug, build a composite mold on it.
Rules of thumb from the shop floor. Edge cases are common, so send us the part if you're unsure.
How it compares.
| Printed plug, in sections | CNC-milled foam plug | Large-format printed mold | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Large one-offs and short runs | Production plugs with machined surfaces | Big tools on an industrial budget |
| Cost | Instant price from your CAD | Large plugs often run tens of thousands | Quote-based, industrial pricing |
| Lead time | About three weeks for an 8 ft plug | Machine queue plus milling | Machine queue |
| Falls short on | Machined tolerances, heat on the plug | Price and wait on big shapes | Access and cost for one-off work |
Questions.
How big can a printed plug get?
Up to 15 × 15 × 5 ft as standard, assembled from 10 in sections that ship in boxes. Bigger parts can be split into more than one plug.
Is it cheaper than CNC-milled foam?
For large one-off plugs it usually is, often by a wide margin; milled foam plugs that size are commonly quoted in the tens of thousands. The estimator above prices your exact part in seconds.
Do I need a large-format printer for large tooling?
No. We print interlocking sections on standard-size printers and join them into one rigid plug.
Plug, pattern, mold: what's the difference?
A plug (or pattern) is a positive copy of the finished part. The mold is built over it, and parts come out of the mold. We make the plug.
What file do you need?
A closed solid saved as STEP, IGES, BREP, STL or OBJ. No CAD yet? Request a custom quote with drawings or photos and dimensions.