Large-format plastic 3D printing: faster from prototype to series

3D printing within the Pallentin Group: we bundle large-format 3D printing in plastic at Pallentin Industries – 3D Printing & Engineering – as a fast entry point into product development that scales seamlessly all the way to series production.

In product development, time is often the most expensive factor. Anyone who waits weeks for a tool loses market windows, feedback cycles and sometimes the entire project momentum. This is exactly where large-format 3D printing in plastic comes in: you receive functional components with a volume of up to 1 m³ – fast, flexible and directly from your CAD data.

As part of the Pallentin Group, we do not think of 3D printing as an isolated stand-alone solution, but as the first step in an end-to-end process chain: from prototype through pilot series to later series production via rotational moulding or injection moulding. This means you do not have to change partners when switching technologies – and you lose no know-how in the transition.

FDM 3D Printing Service: why FDM works so well in large format

In the FDM process (Fused Deposition Modeling), thermoplastic material is built up into a component layer by layer. For industrial use in large format, this offers several advantages at once:

• No tooling costs: components are created directly from the CAD model – entirely without an expensive mould.
• Fast iteration instead of standstill: geometries can be adjusted at short notice and reprinted.
• Engineering thermoplastics: not just visual models, but robust functional components are manufactured.

It is precisely with large components that FDM plays to its strengths: instead of waiting several weeks for a tool, you hold a physical, testable part in your hands within a short time.

Additive manufacturing of components: typical use cases in everyday B2B practice

The additive manufacturing of components has long been more than pure prototyping. More and more companies are using 3D printing in a targeted way for end-use applications, fixtures and small series – wherever flexibility and speed matter more than conventional tool production.

Typical applications include:

• Functional components in small quantities for which a tool is not economical
• Fixtures and jigs for production and assembly
• Large components without tooling up to 1 m³
• Spare parts at short notice or adaptations of existing components

In terms of industries, the main beneficiaries are:

• Mechanical engineering: fixtures and functional components
• Automotive: prototypes and design models
• Architecture: complex construction and design models

Technical 3D printing materials: stability is a question of material

For industrial applications, what counts is not “printable” but “load-bearing”. That is why we work with technical materials that do justice to the respective application:

• Fibre-reinforced plastics with carbon or glass fibre for high stiffness and dimensional stability
• Engineering materials such as ABS, PETG and PA (Nylon)
• Further technical filaments on request

Which material is the right one depends on the requirements of your component: temperature resistance, stiffness, impact strength or chemical resistance. This is exactly the selection we make together with you.

The biggest lever: engineering and manufacturing instead of “just printing”

Many 3D printing projects fail not because of the printer, but because of the details – for example an unfavourable print orientation, the wrong choice of material, or the fact that later series processes were not taken into account. That is why our engineering approach is decisive. From the very beginning, we think beyond mere printing:

• The component is designed so that it is stable and economical in printing.
• The choice of material follows the application – not whatever happens to be available.
• The design is already prepared for later series processes.

This is how 3D printing becomes a genuine development shortcut. Just how closely design and manufacturing interlock here is shown by the range of services offered by Pallentin Industries – 3D Printing & Engineering.

From a single piece to series production: the end-to-end process chain

The real advantage lies in scalability. You can start with 3D printing, develop, test and iterate quickly – and then switch seamlessly into series production:

• 3D printing for prototypes, functional samples and fixtures
• Rotational moulding for small to medium series of large-volume hollow bodies
• Injection moulding for precise high-volume series and assemblies
• In-house mould & tool making within the corporate group

As a manufacturing partner certified to ISO 9001, we ensure that quality remains constant across all stages – from the first printed sample to the last series part.

Frequently asked questions about large-format 3D printing

How large can the components be?

In large format, we manufacture functional plastic components with a volume of up to 1 m³.

Is 3D printing only suitable for prototypes?

No. In addition to prototypes, we also print functional components in small series, fixtures and spare parts at short notice.

What happens if quantities increase later on?

Then you switch to rotational moulding or injection moulding within the same process chain – without changing partners and without any loss of know-how.

Let’s talk about your project

Do you have a component that needs to become reality quickly? Then large-format 3D printing is the ideal entry point. You can find out more at Pallentin Industries – 3D Printing & Engineering. Get in touch with us, and together we will find the fastest path from idea to finished product.