A Comprehensive Range of Methods, Matched to Application Needs
At Midlands 3D, we provide an additive manufacturing service backed by robust quality control and industry recognised standards. Our HP Multi Jet Fusion MJF facility operates 24/7, alongside volume FDM, Industrial FFF, SLS, and SLA technologies, supporting high precision polymer parts from prototyping to high performance and batch production.
We support projects from prototype validation and one off specialist applications, to repeatable manufacturing with expertise in material selection, Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), and finishing processes including vapour smoothing, dyeing, and PolyShot surfacing.
As an ISO 9001 certified and JOSCAR registered supplier, we maintain traceability, secure handling of customer intellectual property, and consistent delivery across automotive, defence, and industrial sectors.
MJF (Multi Jet Fusion)
Designed from the ground up by HP for high volume parts manufacture, Midlands 3D are one of the top 3D Printing Service providers offering this technology in the UK.
A powder-based process, selecting MJF eliminates the “layers” common in other additive technologies and enables you to go from prototype to high quality volume production, all within the same process.
Selecting MJF delivers both speed and efficiency for industrial scale additive manufacturing.
Ideal for:
in an identical process to finished parts
high quality finishes and performance
high quality print manufacturing
MJF Tolerances & Design
- Layer Height – 0.08mm (80microns)
- Tolerance – ±0.3% (min: ±0.15mm)
- Minimum Wall Thickness – 1mm
View our Design Guidelines to learn more about designing for MJF 3D Printing
Build Volume
- 380mm x 284mm x 380mm
When printed, parts are suspended within a build volume, held in a block of PA12 Nylon powder at the optimum print orientation for print quality. Larger parts can be printed in sections and assembled prior to post-processing.
Finishing
- Natural Grey
- DeepDye Black and PolyShot Surfacing
- Vapour Smoothed
Standard MJF Printed parts are a mottled grey finish with an ‘extra strong mint’ texture. Our Print to Product workflow from DyeMansion provides options of PolyShot Surfacing and DeepDye colouring to provide a professional end-use part finish.
Lead Times
- Standard – 5-7 working days
- Express – 2-4 working days
Manufacturing Partner Agreement – Manufacture and delivery to an agreed schedule offering you the best pricing whilst maximising print efficiency.
Material
PA12 Nylon is a strong, durable and versatile material. Known for its excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and low moisture absorption, it is ideal for functional prototypes, end-use parts, and components requiring high strength, and impact resistance.
FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling)
Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), the oldest and most common additive manufacturing process is a great choice for low-cost prints for everything from ‘cosmetic only’ to ‘function over form’ style prints such as internal components, jigs and fixtures. Our fleet of FDM machines provide a 3D Printing service for volume manufacturing and one-off prints where the budget constraints or specific material property requirements make it the best choice. We also offer a multi-colour FDM 3D printing service. This allows us to produce objects with complex patterns and intricate colour combinations. The result is stunning and highly customisable from one part to the next. Whether you want a full multi colour statue, or a small logo adding to your design, multi-colour FDM printing is the solution.
Ideal for:
functional, cost-effective parts
to quickly visualise, ideate and iterate designs
to cost-effectively test your ideas
Tolerance and Design
- Layer Heights – Draft 0.3mm, Standard 0.2mm, Fine 0.1mm
- Tolerance – ±0.5% (min: ±0.5mm)
- Wall Thickness – By default we use 3 outer walls with a 0.4 nozzle meaning walls are 1.2mm thick as a minimum. With larger nozzle sizes we will reduce the wall count e.g. 0.6 nozzle would be 2 walls giving a 1.2mm wall thickness.
- Infill – Standard infill is 20%, this can change depending on part application and strength requirements.
View our Design Guidelines to learn more about designing for FDM 3D Printing
Build Volumes
Our large fleet of over 60 FDM printers enable the production of one or many orders at the same time.
- Sizes (x,y,z)
- Batch Production – up to 320mm x 320mm x 320mm
- Large Format (Tall) – up to 600mm x 600mm x 1200mm
- Large Format (Cube) – up to 1000mm x 1000mm x 1000mm
- Large Format (Long) – up to 1200 x 600mm x 600mm
Finishing
FDM prints are easily recognised by their visible layer lines and a generally rough surface texture, results of the layer-by-layer extrusion process. These prints can be filled, sanded and painted for a smoother surface finish if required.
Lead Times
FDM lead time is determined by the complexity, size, resolution and print time of the part(s) requested.
Manufacturing Partner – We will manufacture and deliver to an agreed schedule offering you the best pricing whilst maximising print efficiency.
Materials
FDM printing offers the widest range of materials from recycled and decorative to engineering grade carbon filled nylon. Check our materials page for a full list of available FDM materials. If a custom material is required, we can usually source specific materials if needed.
Industrial Filament Printing
Midlands 3D are first in the UK to make available industrial printing using HP’s new Industrial Filament Printing Solution.
Designed for use cases that require traceability or extreme strength, heat resistance and durability, our industrial 3D printing service covers the full spectrum of engineering thermoplastics — from ABS and PC at the lower end, through ULTEM™ and high-performance PEI, to PEEK, PEEK-CF, and VictrexAM™ 200.
Full material traceability
The HP Materials Management System uses NFC-tagged spools, automated drying and conditioning chambers, and integrated logging from material intake to completed print. Every job is accompanied by a full process report – the documented chain of custody that regulated industries require.
What’s more, the HP IF 600 HT unlocks industrial grade filament printing at industry leading price points that make it accessible to all.
Ideal for:
High thermal stability, flame retardancy, and excellent dielectric properties
Outstanding resistance to chemicals, wear and radiation
Integrated material logging enables full traceability and reporting
Tolerances & Design
- Part accuracy: ±0.125 mm or 0.0014 mm/mm, whichever is greater
Traceability from Spool to Part
For customers in regulated sectors, our industrial 3D printing service is built around a documented, auditable process from first to last.
Material intake NFC-tagged spools are registered and logged automatically on arrival into the HP Materials Management System — establishing the chain of custody from the moment material enters our facility.
Drying and conditioning Automated drying chambers maintain precise humidity and temperature control. Pre-programmed drying cycles for HP IF 3D Printer Materials; custom cycles available for third-party polymers.
Print process monitoring Real-time system monitoring, sensor-based feedback loops, and automated diagnostics run throughout every build — identifying potential process deviations before or during printing.
Post-processing Post-annealing for PEEK and PAEK parts via pre-programmed recrystallisation cycles, directly integrated into the Materials Management System. Faster setup, consistent results, enhanced mechanical performance.
Process report Every industrial 3D printing job is accompanied by a complete process report — a documented record of materials, conditions, and parameters suitable for validation, qualification, and audit purposes.
Build Volume
Build volume (x,y,z): 380 × 380 × 420 mm
Finishing
Finishing options vary dependant on the material. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Lead Times
FFF lead time is determined by the complexity, size, resolution and print time of the part(s) requested.
For customers with a Manufacturing Partner Agreement we can manufacture and deliver to an agreed schedule offering you the best pricing whilst maximising print efficiency.
Materials
Our industrial FFF service supports the most demanding engineering polymers available in additive manufacturing. These are not entry-level filaments — they are production-grade materials for applications where performance is the only acceptable outcome.
PEEK The reference material for high-performance industrial 3D printing. Exceptional mechanical strength, continuous service temperatures up to 250°C, and outstanding resistance to chemicals, wear, and radiation. Used extensively in aerospace, medical implants, and oil and gas components.
PEEK-CF Carbon-fibre reinforced PEEK delivering a step-change in stiffness-to-weight ratio. Where structural rigidity is as important as thermal and chemical performance — load-bearing brackets, frames, and precision structural components.
PEEK AERO / PEEK-A Aerospace-grade PEEK variants with enhanced material certification provenance. For supply chains where traceability extends to the polymer specification itself.
PAEK / VictrexAM™ 200 The broader poly-aryl ether ketone family. Post-annealing via the HP Materials Management System further enhances strength, heat resistance, and chemical durability — pre-programmed cycles, consistent results.
PEI / ULTEM™ Polyetherimide – high thermal stability, inherent flame retardancy, and excellent dielectric properties. The material of choice for aerospace interiors, electrical housings, and components subject to flammability standards.
PC / PC-CF Polycarbonate and carbon-filled polycarbonate. High impact resistance, dimensional stability, and broad chemical compatibility.
ABS / ASA Proven engineering thermoplastics for applications where high-performance polymer costs are not justified. Reliable, repeatable, and compatible with carbon-filled variants across all modules.
Specific material requirement? Talk to us.
SLA (Stereolithography / Resin)
Stereolithography, also known as SLA or Resin based printing, uses a photopolymer that solidifies when exposed to ultraviolet light. In this process, a laser beam traces the cross-section of a 3D model onto the resin, causing it to harden. Layer by layer, the model is built up until it’s complete.
SLA Resin offers several qualities that make it a preferred choice in specific applications. Specifically, it produces highly detailed and accurate parts with smooth surfaces and fine features. This makes it ideal for prototyping small, complex and intricate designs, yet delivers strength and durability in the finished part.
Ideal for:
Delivering sharp details and smooth surfaces that need minimal post-processing
Great for testing detailed parts where tolerances matter
High-detail masters for silicone moulding or injection moulding
fine aesthetics and customisable design for items like eyewear, phone cases, gadgets and accessories
Tolerance and Design
- Layer Height – 0.05mm (50 microns)
- Tolerance – ±0.15% (min: ±0.01mm)
- Minimum Wall Thickness – 1mm
View our Design Guidelines to learn more about designing for SLA TPU 3D Printing
Build Volume
- 140mm x 140mm x 190mm
Finishing
- Standard Grey
The SLA resin finish is a standard grey colour with smooth surfaces and fine details.
Lead Times
Similar to FDM, lead time for Resin is determined by the complexity, size, and print time of the part(s) requested.
Manufacturing Partner – We will manufacture and deliver to an agreed schedule offering you the best pricing whilst maximising print efficiency.
Material
Standard Resin is known for its smooth surface finish and fine detail capabilities. It offers good strength and rigidity, making it ideal for creating detailed prototyped, models, and parts that require high accuracy and a professional appearance.
SLS Flexible TPU (Selective Laser Sintering)
If you’re looking for flexible prints with all the benefits of powder-based printing, our SLS TPU 3D printing service is ideal for both one off and batch manufacture.
The flexible TPU 90A material combined with the SLS printing process is a great choice to create complex, resilient and skin-safe parts with the freedom of design offered by the powder-based printing process. Unlike FDM based TPU printing, SLS doesn’t require support material meaning all surfaces have a consistent surface finish regardless of orientation.
Combining the capabilities of the SLS printing process and TPU 90A enables innovative designs such as varying flexibility in a single part, varying part thickness and even adding lattice style structures to give complete design freedom.
Ideal for:
Gaskets, seals, masks, belts, tubing
handles, buttons, straps, wearables
orthotics and other medical aids
dampers, cushioning
Tolerance and Design
- Layer Height – 0.11mm (110 microns)
- Tolerance – ±0.3% (min: ±0.3mm)
- Minimum Wall Thickness – 1mm (3mm for vapour smoothing)
View our Design Guidelines to learn more about designing for SLS TPU 3D Printing
Build Volume
- 152mm x 152mm x 294mm
Similar to MJF, SLS suspends parts within the build volume, held in a block of TPU 90A at the optimum print orientation for print quality.
Finishing
- Natural Grey
- DeepDye Black
Standard SLS TPU 90A printed parts are a dark grey with a slightly grainy texture. Add our part finishing to add DeepDye colouring to a rich deep black.
Lead Times
- Standard – 5-7 working days
- Express – 2-4 working days
Manufacturing Partner – We will manufacture and deliver to an agreed schedule offering you the best pricing whilst maximising print efficiency.
Material
TPU 90A is a flexible durable thermoplastic. With a shore hardness of 90A, it offers excellent elasticity, abrasion resistance, and impact toughness, making it ideal for creating functional parts that require flexibility and durability.
Talk to Us. Visit Us.
Talk to us and find out what makes working with Midlands 3D so different. If you’ll be in the area, why not arrange to stop by for a guided tour of our manufacturing facility, meet the team and browse our showroom for inspiration.