Automotive engineering
Automotive prototypes and fixtures with SLS
Functional prototypes, assembly and inspection fixtures, air ducts, brackets and clips for automotive programs, plus low-volume polymer parts. Laser sintering keeps hardware in step with the design while production tooling is still being planned.
Typical parts
Hardware for every stage of the program
From the first functional prototype to fixtures on the line and parts in small series.
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Functional prototypes
Polyamide parts for fit, function and installation tests, strong enough to be assembled, clipped and loaded.
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Assembly and inspection fixtures
Nests, check fixtures and assembly aids shaped to the part, for pilot builds and production lines.
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Air ducts
HVAC and intake duct prototypes with integrated flanges, clips and mounting points.
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Brackets and clips
Brackets, harness clips and retainers with snap-fits and ribs, for prototypes and low volumes.
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Low-volume interior parts
Covers, trim, switch housings and fittings for special editions, restorations and small series.
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Motorsport development parts
Ducting, brackets, housings and aerodynamic development parts on short development cycles.
Why SLS
Why laser sintering suits automotive programs
Automotive programs need parts long before production tooling exists, and fixtures that change with every design loop. SLS covers both without tooling.
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No support structures
Clips, ducts and housings with undercuts and snap features are built in one piece without supports.
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Nesting for batches
Prototype sets and fixture components can be nested together in one build, mixing different parts.
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Complex internal channels
Air ducts and housings get integrated flow paths, flanges and mounting points without joining several shells.
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Lattice lightweighting
Lightweight fixtures and handling aids reduce the strain on operators along the line.
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Part consolidation
Bracket, clip and spacer assemblies become one part, which simplifies prototype builds.
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Fast iterations without tooling
Each design loop gets matching hardware without waiting for prototype tooling.
Engineering considerations
What to plan for
Prototype hardware is only useful when its limits are understood. We review these points with you before quoting.
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Prototype versus production material
SLS polyamide behaves differently from injection-molded production materials. Tests should be planned with that difference in mind, and we discuss it in the review.
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Surface texture
As-sintered parts are matte and slightly grainy. Visible interior parts may need dyeing or smoothing, which belong to extended finishing.
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Heat and media
Under-hood temperatures, fuels, oils and cleaning agents are checked against the material datasheet for each application.
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Part size
Large ducts and panels must fit the build envelope with margins, or be split into sections with designed joints.
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Tolerances
Accuracy depends on geometry, size and build orientation. Datum features and critical dimensions are agreed in the engineering review; we do not quote generic tolerance values.
Materials & platform
Materials for automotive parts
PA 12 is our primary material. Every material is shown with its current status.
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PA 12
Primary material Status: CommissioningThe default for functional prototypes, fixtures, brackets and ducts.
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PA 12 GB
Status: PlannedGlass-bead-filled for stiffer fixtures and brackets with stable dimensions.
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PA 11
Status: PlannedHigher ductility for clips, snap-fits and impact-loaded parts.
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TPU
Status: PlannedA flexible elastomer for grommets, seals and soft-touch prototype parts.
Specific powder grades are confirmed per project. Datasheets are shared on request, and we publish property values only once they are verified.
Compare materialsProduction platform
EOS P 770
Status: Commissioning Installed and being commissioned. Requests are reviewed now; production slots are confirmed per project.An industrial dual-laser polymer SLS system. Every status on this site comes from one registry and is kept current.
- Build volume
- 700 × 380 × 580 mm
- Lasers
- 2 × 70 W CO₂
Manufacturer specifications (EOS GmbH). Usable part size, material suitability and achievable tolerances require engineering review.
Services and their status
- Engineering review
- Status: Available now
- Design for additive manufacturing
- Status: Available now
- SLS prototyping
- Status: Commissioning
- Low-volume production
- Status: Commissioning
- Standard finishing
- Status: Commissioning
- Extended finishing
- Status: Planned
- Inspection reports
- Status: Planned
How it works
From CAD file to finished part
Every request is quoted by an engineer, not by an algorithm. You get a clear answer on what can be built, how, and at what cost.
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CAD upload
Send STEP, STL or 3MF files, or drawings, with quantity, material and application details through the secure form.
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Engineering review
An engineer checks manufacturability, build orientation, material fit and any design changes worth considering.
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Quotation
You receive a written quotation with price, lead time and the recommendations from the review. If the part is outside our scope, we tell you why.
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Production
After your approval, parts are built, depowdered, finished as agreed and checked before dispatch.
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Start a project
Need prototypes or fixtures for your program?
Send CAD files with quantities and target dates. An engineer reviews each part before we quote, and your files stay confidential.