3D printed templates and fixtures
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, breaks with traditional manufacturing methods with its efficiency, flexibility, and greater sustainability.
Saves time, reduces costs and increases safety
3D printing can produce templates, fixtures, and other manufacturing tools in hours, instead of days or weeks of traditional machining. High-strength thermoplastics enable lighter, more ergonomic tools while increasing design freedom.
Advantages:
- Customization; fast production and short lead times;
- Cost-effectiveness (less material loss, no complicated tooling);
- High durability (e.g. with carbon fiber reinforced materials); design flexibility;
- Less weight compared to machined metal.
- New materials, such as fiberglass-reinforced, fire-resistant types – coming soon
Design in minutes
Fixturemate + GrabCAD Print Pro
Introducing fixturemate integration in GrabCAD Print Pro
Anyone can design high-quality, production-line fixtures and gauges with the solution. Powered by trinckle, fixturemate integration removes CAD limitations with its intuitive workflow, taking you from part upload to print-ready fixture in minutes – no design experience required.
- No CAD required: browser-based interface that anyone can use
- Can be designed in minutes: the 9-step process significantly shortens design time
- Instant production: design and print in a single software environment
- Professional results: built-in engineering principles guarantee functional fixations
Don't wait weeks for custom tools. Now your operators and engineers can create exactly what they need, when they need it.
Do you have any questions?
Our experts will help you find the ideal 3D printing solution.
Use the benefits of additive manufacturing without investment with Varinex Direct services!
In our 3D Digital Factory, we are at your disposal with various additive technologies for 3D printing and 3D scanning.
Traditional approach vs. 3D printing
3D printed tooling can make your factory more efficient, safer, and more cost-effective.
Every manufacturing process uses some form of jigs and fixtures, but producing them using outdated methods is expensive and time-consuming. As this guide will show, 3D printing offers a better alternative.
Main areas of application:
Assembly clamps
Robot arm end clamps (EOAT)
Verification/inspection templates
Printers most relevant to the application
H350™ SAF™ Printer The H350® powder bed technology offers an economical solution for high-volume production of tools and parts, ideal for high-volume templates and fixtures.
F370CR FDM Printer
Create strong, 3D printed tools from carbon fiber materials.
Origin® Two
Injection molding precision, consistent repeatability and excellent surface quality, using a wide range of engineering grade materials, for the production of high-quality templates and fixtures.
F770 FDM Printer
The F770 offers large-format FDM printing at an affordable price, making it suitable for the production of large-scale templates and fixtures.
Fortus® 450mc FDM Printer
The Fortus® 450mc provides industrial-grade printing capabilities with a versatile material selection, ideal for creating complex templates and fixtures.
F900 FDM Printer
With its high capacity and high-performance materials, the F900 is perfect for a variety of tooling applications, including extensive templates and fixtures.
F3300® FDM Printer
The F3300® features next-generation FDM technology, offering up to twice the printing speed and performance of previous models, making it effective for the production of templates and fixtures.
Industries
3D printed templates and fixtures offer benefits in many industries.
Aerospace
companies are using 3D printed drill guides, ground support equipment, and other tools to meet deadlines and reduce costs.
Automotive Industry
3D printing enables faster, on-demand tooling, minimizing downtime and ensuring continuous operation of production lines.
Medicine
The unlimited design possibilities of 3D printing allow doctors to create surgical templates that meet the unique needs of patients.
“3D printing gives us greater geometric freedom to create previously unimaginable 3D printed devices, allowing us to manufacture highly complex parts that would otherwise be uneconomical or simply physically impossible.”
Rachel Trimble, GKN Aerospace
Frequently Asked Questions about 3D Printing
3D printed jigs and fixtures are custom tools used to position, secure, guide or test parts during assembly, machining or inspection. Additive manufacturing enables faster production and more ergonomic, application-specific design.
They are generally lighter, faster to manufacture, and easier to modify. Unlike machined aluminum, printed tools can be optimized for weight, ergonomics, and complex shapes.
FDM®: Ideal for strong, durable tools (e.g. with carbon fiber materials).
SAF® (H350®): Excellent for high-volume production with consistency and strength.
P3™ DLP: Provides injection molding-level precision and surface finish for detailed tools and gauges. Smooth and/or textured surfaces can also improve ergonomics.
Stratasys offers engineering-grade materials such as carbon fiber nylon, ABS, and high-strength photopolymers. The choice of material depends on mechanical requirements, thermal resistance, and application environment.
Custom templates and fixtures can be printed in as little as 24 hours – much faster than traditional CNC machining or outsourced tooling.
Yes. Large format printers like the F770® and F900® allow you to create large-sized stencils.
Faster turnaround time and flexible tooling
Reduced material waste and costs
Lightweight, ergonomic design
Customization for unique parts and processes
Digital warehouse: Template and fixture designs can be stored digitally and printed on demand, eliminating the need to physically store bulky or infrequently used tools.
Contact our team to assess your tooling needs. We can help you find the technology and material that best suits your workflow, and provide support in design optimization and implementation.