Building objects, one layer at a time
3D printing — also called additive manufacturing — creates three-dimensional objects by adding material layer by layer, guided by a digital 3D model. Traditional manufacturing usually starts with a solid block of material and cuts away everything that isn't needed. 3D printing works the opposite way: it builds only what's needed, from the ground up, one thin layer at a time.
That difference is what makes it so useful for small workshops and independent makers. There's no mold to machine and no minimum order size — a single, complex, one-off piece costs about the same to produce as the hundredth. It's what lets a small shop offer custom shapes and detailed designs that would be far too expensive to make any other way.
From design to finished piece
Model
A 3D model is created in design software, scanned from a real object, or sourced ready-made — usually saved as an STL or OBJ file.
Slice
Slicing software cuts the model into hundreds or thousands of thin horizontal layers and writes the exact instructions the printer will follow.
The printer builds the object layer by layer — extruding, curing, or fusing material — a process that can take anywhere from under an hour to several days.
Finish
Support material is removed, and the piece is cleaned, sanded, cured, or painted to reach its final look and feel.
Common types of 3D printing
Most consumer and small-batch 3D printing falls into one of a few families of technology. We currently print exclusively with FDM — here's how it compares to the others, for context.
FDM
Fused Deposition Modeling melts a plastic filament and extrudes it through a nozzle, building the piece layer by layer. It's affordable, durable, and the most common process for everyday parts and décor.
Resin (SLA / DLP)
A vat of liquid resin is cured layer by layer with light. It captures far finer detail than FDM, which makes it ideal for miniatures, jewelry, and pieces with intricate surfaces.
SLS
Selective Laser Sintering fuses fine powder — typically nylon — with a laser. It needs no support structures and produces strong, functional parts, though it's less common outside industrial settings.
What pieces are printed with
Right now, everything we print uses PLA — a reliable, everyday plastic well suited to most decorative and functional pieces. We may add other materials as we grow.
The material shapes how a finished piece looks, feels, and holds up over time. Beyond PLA, the wider world of 3D printing includes a few other common materials, shown here for reference:
Why we print instead of mass-produce
- Custom by design. Every piece can be sized, shaped, or personalized without retooling a factory line.
- Low waste. Only the material the object actually needs gets used, layer by layer.
- Small-batch friendly. A one-off piece and a batch of ten cost about the same to produce.
- Fine detail. Shapes that would be difficult or impossible to mold or carve come out clean and precise.
- No mold costs. New designs can go from idea to finished object without expensive tooling.
- Made on demand. Pieces are printed as they're ordered, instead of sitting in a warehouse.
Have questions about ordering, materials, or turnaround?