PrintGig, Auckland (2026)

04/06/2026

We just completed a PEKK print job — and it's one of those materials that makes you appreciate how far 3D printing has come.

So what makes PEKK special?

→ Glass transition temp of 162°C — stays rigid where most polymers fail
→ Continuous use up to 260°C
→ Inherently flame resistant (UL94 V-0)
→ Outstanding chemical resistance
→ Trusted in aerospace, oil & gas, and defence applications

It sits at the very top of the polymer performance pyramid — the kind of material you reach for when failure simply isn't an option.

If you're working on parts that need to survive extreme heat, harsh chemicals, or demanding environments — PEKK is worth knowing about.

15/05/2026

"3D printing is just for prototypes, right?"

I hear this a lot. And honestly, I get it — that's how most people were introduced to it.

But here's the reality:

We regularly produce end-use parts for engineering, aerospace, and industrial applications. Parts that go directly into real products, real machines, real environments.

The technology has moved fast. Today's high-performance materials can handle extreme heat, chemical exposure, and mechanical stress — things that were only possible with traditional manufacturing a few years ago.

So no, 3D printing isn't just for prototypes anymore.

It's for production. It's for low-volume runs. It's for replacing a part that's no longer manufactured. It's for building something that simply can't be made any other way.

What other myths about 3D printing have you heard? Drop them below — happy to bust them. 👇

04/05/2026

Clients often say to us recently and said: "We didn't know anyone in NZ could do this."

That hit me harder than I expected.

We'd just delivered a high-performance 3D printed part for their engineering project — something they'd previously been sourcing overseas, with long lead times and high shipping costs.

The truth is, advanced 3D printing capability exists right here in New Zealand. But most companies still don't know it.

We started PrintGig because I saw this gap firsthand. NZ has incredible high-tech companies — aerospace, engineering, deep tech — but when it comes to manufacturing complex parts, the default is still "send it overseas."

That doesn't have to be the case anymore.

If you're an NZ company working on something that requires precision, high-performance materials, or fast turnaround — I'd love to show you what's possible locally.

What's stopping NZ businesses from using local advanced manufacturing? I'd genuinely love to hear your thoughts. 👇

26/04/2026

Material choice vs geometry — what actually decides part performance

A lot of people start with the material.

But very often, the real problem is the geometry.

A stronger material does not fix:
- bad wall thickness.
- sharp corners.
- weak orientation.
- poor clearance.
- unsupported overhangs.

In 3D printing, the part usually fails because of how it is designed, not just what it is made from.

If the shape is wrong, even the best material will struggle.
If the shape is right, you often get much better results without jumping to a more expensive material too early.

That is why we look at the whole part, not just the filament.

Come talk to us to discuss your next project!

24/04/2026

3D printing for ESD safe parts

Not every part needs ESD protection.
But when it touches or sits near sensitive electronics, static is not a small detail.

ESD materials make sense for:
- Electronics enclosures
- Assembly jigs and fixtures
- Production tools, trays, holders
- Covers and housings in static‑sensitive environments

ESD‑safe does not always mean “conductive.”
Some materials are static‑dissipative — they slowly drain charge instead of shorting it.

One rule of thumb:
If the part works close to PCBs, chips, or sensors, design the static behavior into the part, not as an afterthought.

Come talk to us to discuss your next ESD‑related project.

22/04/2026

Clearance in 3D printing is not the same as in CNC

A lot of people copy CNC-style fits directly into 3D printing.
On screen, 0‑gap looks perfect.
In reality, it usually means parts that won’t fit.

Fact is:

CNC can hold something like 0.01–0.05 mm tolerance
thanks to rigid setups, precise tooling, and stable machining.

3D printing is usually in the 0.1–0.5 mm range,
depending on process, material, layer height, and orientation.

That’s why “perfect fit” in CAD often becomes “perfectly stuck” in real life.

For injection moulding, you can design very tight tolerances,
but you pay for it in tooling cost and lead time.

3D printing is different.
It trades ultra‑tight tolerance
for speed, flexibility, and fast iteration.

The goal is not “perfect fit,”
but “good enough fit that actually works”.

If you are designing assemblies, housings, or fixtures,
and you are not sure how much clearance to add,
we can help you design a simple test block
and print it before committing to the final part.

Come talk to us to discuss your next project!

17/04/2026

Multi‑part vs one‑part design — what we’ve learned from real parts

We get a lot of CAD files that look great on screen.
People often say:
“I can print this in one piece — so I should.”

That’s not always true.

Sometimes a single‑part design is a design trap, not a DfAM win.
Other times, splitting a part into multiple pieces is the smarter, cheaper, more reliable choice.

👉 When we print in one part
- Simple geometry, no moving parts.
- No tight internal channels.
- No need for assembly or service.
- No crazy overhangs or impossible supports.

One‑part works well when it actually saves time, cost, and risk — not just “looks clean in CAD.”

👉 When we split into multiple parts

- Any part with moving components (hinges, shafts, sliders).
- Any part with hard‑to‑reach interiors or long support channels.
- Any part that needs to be serviced or replaced.
- Any part that would need massive supports or extremely long print time.

Splitting:
- Reduces print time and material.
- Improves surface quality.
- Makes inspection and maintenance possible.
- Often improves reliability.

👉 A simple rule we use
Think about function, not unity.

If the part:
- has moving parts,
- needs to be serviced, or
- would be hard to print or clean,

it is often better as a well‑designed multi‑part assembly — even if it is “less elegant” in CAD.

Design for 3D printing is not about printing everything in one go.
It is about choosing the structure that actually works in real life — and that everyone can manufacture, inspect, and maintain.

Come talk to us to discuss your next project!

14/04/2026

Why fillets matter in 3D printing

A lot of part failures start at one place:

# Sharp corners.
- That is where stress concentrates.
- Not the whole part.
- Just that tiny corner.

In 3D printing, that matters a lot.

# A small fillet can:
- Reduce stress concentration.
- Spread load more evenly.
- Improve durability.
- Lower the risk of cracks starting at the corner.

A sharp corner looks clean in CAD.
But in the real world, it is often the weakest point.

One simple rule:
If the part carries load, do not leave a sharp corner there.
Fillets are not just for looks.
They are part of good engineering design.

13/04/2026

How to design for 3D printing — the real decisions that change the part

3D printing isn’t just “you send a file, we print it.”
It’s our combined effort to deliver the best components.

👉 1. Orientation controls strength
- FDM parts are weakest between layers.
- Strongest when load follows the print direction.
- Decide orientation based on force path, not “what looks easiest”.

👉 2. Overhang = support = cost
- Overhangs beyond ~45° usually need support.
- More support → more time, more material, worse surface.
- Use slopes, chamfers, or small ribs instead of long vertical faces.

👉 3. Wall thickness should be functional, not random
- Too thin → weak, fragile, prone to warping.
- Too thick → slow print, high cost, no extra benefit.
- Use 1–2 mm for light parts, 2–4 mm for functional parts unless load really requires more.

👉 4. Tolerance is not precision machining
- 3D printing has real build variation.
- Designing “perfect fit” usually means “no fit”.
- Give moving parts 0.2–0.5 mm clearance; tight fits 0.1–0.2 mm max.

👉 5. Fillets beat sharp corners
- Sharp corners concentrate stress → cracks start here.
- Add radius wherever the part carries load.
- Even small fillets improve fatigue life and stress distribution.

One rule to remember
Design for how the part will be printed, not just how it looks in CAD.
A small change in geometry can change:
– print success
– strength
– cost
– lead time
– post processing

Come talk to us to discuss your next project!

30/10/2025

PrintGig was just featured in an interview and documentary by National Business Review!

Our founding director Caleb McIvor speaks on the role of advanced plastic additive manufacturing in industry and aerospace, and the direction of the company moving forward.

If you have a subscription to NBR, you can find the interview and documentary here:
https://www.nbr.co.nz/your-business/3d-printing-space-grade-plastic-parts-is-just-the-beginning/

If you don't, then the documentary will be out on their YouTube channel in two weeks time!

PrintGig

04/06/2026

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