Industries / Medical and healthcare
Medical 3D printing for prototypes and research parts
Concept models, bench prototypes, verification rigs and research equipment in SLA, PolyJet, SLS and FDM, built to your design with every build recorded. Upload anonymised geometry for a quote. We are working towards ISO 9001 and hold no ISO 13485 certification.
What we make
- Concept and ergonomic models, SLA and PolyJet
- Bench prototypes for design verification
- Research equipment, fixtures and lab hardware
- Anatomical models for planning and teaching, from your data
Also included
- Build records: material, process, settings and revision
- Supplier datasheets for every material, shared on request
- Finishing by sanding, sand-blasting and cleaning
- NDA before any geometry is shared
What we do
Medical and healthcare research capability
Models, prototypes and fixtures that support development, teaching and research. We are not a manufacturer of finished medical devices.
Anatomical models from scan data
Patient-derived geometry converted to printable models for planning and teaching.
Device prototypes
Housings, handles and enclosures for early-stage devices, ready for user trials.
Research fixtures and rigs
Holders, test rigs and custom lab equipment for research groups.
Presentation models
Finished models for investors, clinicians and regulatory discussions.
Multi-material models
Rigid and soft materials in one print to mimic tissue behaviour.
Training aids
Low-volume teaching models for courses and simulation.
Scope of supply
Development stages we support
We cover the early and middle stages. At the device stage you bring your own regulated manufacturing route, and we hand over the prototype history.
- Concept: a model people can pick up and comment on.
- Bench prototype: functional parts that prove mechanics, fit and usability.
- Verification rigs and test fixtures: the equipment around the device, not the device.
- Device stage: your regulated manufacturer, with the prototype history and build records we supply.
Scope
Project scope and regulatory responsibilities
Regulatory class depends on the part's intended use rather than its material.
Within our scope
- Print to your design and record the build: material, process, settings and revision.
- Advise on the material that matches the purpose: rigid, flexible, transparent or high-detail.
- Tell you what the datasheet says about a material's biocompatibility testing, if the supplier has published any, and where it does not apply.
- Finish parts to a clean, smooth surface by sanding, sand-blasting and cleaning.
- Sign an NDA, and keep patient data out of the workflow: send anonymised geometry only.
Handled with your regulatory adviser
- Working towards ISO 9001, with build records for each part. We hold no ISO 13485 certification.
- Cleaning, sterilisation and biocompatibility validation are set by you and your regulatory adviser; we supply the material datasheet and process record.
- Finished-device manufacture sits with your registered manufacturer; we deliver the prototype history that leads there.
- For contact with blood, tissue or implantation, suppliers publish testing for some grades, and we share it so your adviser can assess it against your use.
Materials
Material suitability for medical-adjacent work
Prototype and research use. Material datasheets are shared on request.
| Material | Process | Suited to | Check before ordering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid photopolymer | SLA | Concept models, ergonomic models, surgical-guide prototypes for planning, fit-check parts | Long-term skin contact and sterilisation: check the supplier datasheet |
| Transparent resin | SLA | Flow visualisation, clear housings for prototypes | Repeated chemical disinfectants: confirm with us |
| Multi-material photopolymer | PolyJet | Anatomical models, soft and rigid regions, colour-coded teaching models | Load-bearing parts: use SLA or SLS |
| Nylon PA12 | SLS | Instrument housings, fixtures, jigs, test rigs, brace and orthosis prototypes | Sterilisation: check the datasheet; porous surfaces hold residue |
| ABS, PETG | FDM | Housings for prototypes, lab equipment, fixtures | Sterile fluid contact: confirm with us |
| TPU 95A | FDM | Grips, soft-touch prototypes, gaskets for bench use | Patient-contact seals: confirm with us |
Printed surfaces are layered, so cleaning and sterilisation need planning. If a part must be cleaned or sterilised, tell us before we quote and we will go through the datasheet and your validation route.
Anatomical models
Anatomical models from scan data
A common request is a physical model of a structure for surgical planning, teaching or patient discussion.
Send a segmented mesh in STL. Please send anonymised geometry only: remove names, dates and identifying metadata first, and confirm you have the right to use the data.
SLA gives the finest detail. PolyJet can print soft and rigid regions in one model and in colour. Large models in FDM are cheaper but show layer lines.
Medical research case studyFAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do you hold ISO 13485?
We hold no ISO 13485 certification and are working towards ISO 9001. We keep controlled revisions, recorded builds and traceable material. We supply prototypes and research parts, and your registered manufacturer handles finished devices.
Is any of your material biocompatible?
Biocompatibility depends on the grade, process, post-processing, cleaning and use. We can quote a skin-contact PLA and a biocompatible resin grade on request, confirmed per job. We share the supplier datasheet so you and your regulatory adviser can assess it against your use.
Can parts be sterilised?
Autoclave and other methods affect printed plastics differently. Tell us the method before ordering and we will pick a material and share its datasheet; validation stays with you.
What medical work do you do?
Concept and bench prototypes, research equipment and fixtures, and anatomical models for planning and teaching. We have supplied components for medical research applications.
Can you handle patient data?
Please send anonymised geometry only. We only need the shape, so remove identifiable patient information before sharing.
Who should I use for a final device?
A contract manufacturer with ISO 13485 and design controls. We can supply the prototypes that get you to that stage.
Related
Related processes, materials and guides
Tell us the development stage and any patient contact
Say whether the part is a concept model, a bench prototype or research equipment, and whether it touches a patient. If it does, we will confirm whether we are the right supplier.