Custom 3D printed parts.
And the ones you can’t buy anymore.
Clarke Additive does two things for manufacturers, repair shops, and hardware builders around Charlotte, NC. We design and print functional parts in engineering thermoplastics, and we reverse-engineer components that are broken, obsolete, or no longer sold.
No CAD file, no drawing, no part number? Send a photo, a sketch, or the broken part itself and I’ll tell you which of the two you need, or whether neither is the right answer.
Two capabilities, one shop.
Most jobs are one or the other. Some are both: we scan the part you have, then produce the part you need.
Parts built to spec.
Functional prototypes, brackets, fixtures, adapters, enclosures and ducting, printed in engineering thermoplastics and reviewed by a mechanical engineer before anything is committed to a machine. One-off through short production runs.
- Build volume
- 350 × 320 × 325 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.008″ (0.2 mm)
- Run size
- 1 to 500 units
- Materials
- 9 engineering grades
Parts you can’t buy anymore.
Send the broken part. We scan it on a blue-laser metrology scanner, verify the dimensions that matter by hand, and rebuild it as a real parametric CAD model. Then you get parts, the model, or both.
- Scan accuracy
- Up to 0.02 mm
- Delivered
- Parts, model, drawing, or all three
- Lead time
- 7 to 21 days
- Works from
- A sample, drawing, or photo
Parts have to come to us. All scanning is done in-house at our Waxhaw, NC facility. Ship the part to us, or arrange a local hand-off if you are in the Charlotte area. On-site and mobile scanning at your location is not offered at this time.
How we can help your project.
From a single prototype to a short production run, every order gets the same disciplined process — and a real engineer reviewing the work.
Functional Prototypes
Take your design from digital to physical. We produce parts built to your specification — material, tolerance, and finish — so you can test, iterate, and validate before committing to tooling.
Production Runs
10 to 500 units, consistently. Each piece in a batch is held to the same standard. Material lots are tracked, nonconformances are documented, and inspection records are available on request.
Replacement Parts
Legacy hardware, discontinued components, broken parts — send us a sample and we can reverse-engineer a functional replacement. Scanned, measured, and rebuilt as a real CAD model. See how it works →
DFAM Consultation
Design for Additive Manufacturing review — included with every quote. Orientation, wall thickness, tolerance reality checks, and material recommendations from an engineer, before any material is committed.
Display & Visual Models
Logos, signage, presentation pieces, and appearance models — multi-color, multi-part, with clean detail and finish. The same design and print quality, applied to the parts that are meant to be seen.
Built for people who need a 3D printed part made right.
If you need a custom plastic part — or one you can't buy anymore — you're in the right place. It doesn't matter much what industry you're in; what matters is the problem in front of you.
You need a part you can't buy anymore
Discontinued, obsolete, or never made in the first place. Send the broken one or a photo — we measure it, model it, and print a functional replacement, often in a better material than the original.
You need something custom made
Brackets, mounts, ducting, housings, adapters, enclosures. Designed and printed to fit your exact need — with an engineer making sure it actually holds up.
You need to prototype or test an idea
Functional prototypes in engineering-grade materials, so what you hold in your hand behaves like what you'll eventually build or ship.
You need a small run made
Anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred parts — the quantities the big bureaus turn away because the order's too small to bother with.
Manufacturers, automation shops, repair teams, machine shops, hardware builders, and local businesses — plus plenty that don't fit any neat category — all come to us with exactly these problems. If yours sounds like one of the above, get in touch.
Parts we've designed and built.
Structural parts, design work, and recent builds — real parts, produced to spec.
Structural L-Bracket — PA-CF with integrated mounting features
Electronics Enclosure — base assembly with brass heat-set inserts
Universal 2″ Clamp Mount — engineered truss design with integrated 1/4-20 mounting platform
OMNI Creative Logo — multi-color, multi-part display piece, designed and printed in-house
3D Printing and Reverse Engineering.
Five services across two capabilities — each one anchored in real engineering work. If your project doesn't fit a category, send us a description anyway. The unusual jobs are often where we add the most value.
Industrial & Automation
Sensor housings, conveyor guides, custom adapters, machine guards
Product Development
Form-fit prototypes, design validation, pre-tooling iteration
Electronics & Hardware
Sealed enclosures, panel mounts, cable strain relief, ESD-safe parts
Maintenance & Repair
Replacement parts, obsolete components, custom adapters
Additive Manufacturing
Design reviewed, printed in engineering thermoplastics, one part through short production runs.
Functional Prototypes
Engineering-grade prototypes built to your specification — material, tolerance, and finish — so you can test, iterate, and validate before committing to tooling.
A prototype isn't useful if you can't trust the part to behave like the production version. We print prototypes in materials that match the end-use environment — PA-CF if you need stiffness, PC-Blend if you need impact strength, ASA if you need UV resistance — so what you test is what you'd actually ship.
What we'll need from you
- A 3D file (STEP preferred for tight-tolerance work; STL or 3MF also accepted)
- The end-use environment — indoor, outdoor, hot, wet, chemical exposure, etc.
- Critical dimensions or tolerances called out
- What the part has to do — this matters more than people realize
What we'll come back with
A quote, a recommended material, and any DFAM observations — like "this wall is too thin in PETG, suggest 2.4mm minimum" or "this overhang will need supports that'll leave a witness line; consider reorienting." DFAM consultation is included in every quote, not billed separately.
Small-Batch Production
Repeatable runs of 10 to 500 units, held to a documented standard. Material lots tracked, nonconformances documented, inspection records available on request.
Below the volume where injection molding tooling pays for itself, you have two choices: a marketplace that ships parts with no documentation and inconsistent quality, or a real shop that runs your job like a manufacturing engagement. We're the second one.
How a production run works here
- First-article print and your sign-off before the rest of the batch starts
- Same material lot across the entire run when possible — lot numbers recorded
- Process parameters locked once first article is approved
- Dimensional spot-checks throughout the run, recorded
- Nonconformances flagged and discussed before parts ship, not after
When to call us instead of a marketplace
If your part has to fit something, mate with something, hold a tolerance, or behave a specific way under load — you want a shop that understands the difference between "it printed" and "it works." Our parts have to do something specific, every time, or you tell us about it.
DFAM Consultation
Design for Additive Manufacturing review — included free with every quote, available standalone for design teams without in-house additive expertise.
Design for Additive Manufacturing isn't a buzzword — it's the difference between a part that prints reliably and looks clean, and a part that requires extensive supports, has visible witness lines on critical surfaces, or breaks at a layer line in service. Most parts come to us designed for traditional manufacturing methods. We adjust them.
What a DFAM review includes
- Orientation analysis — which face up gives the best surface, the strongest layer adhesion, and the least support material
- Wall thickness check — ensuring features print reliably in the chosen material
- Tolerance reality check — flagging dimensions that need post-processing to hit
- Feature redesign suggestions — chamfers vs fillets, support-free overhangs, integral heat-set bosses
- Material recommendation — matched to mechanical, thermal, and chemical environment
Why this is included with every quote
Because we'd rather flag a problem before we print than after. A design issue caught in DFAM review costs you nothing. The same issue caught after first-article print costs both of us a print run. We'd rather have the conversation upfront.
Reverse Engineering & 3D Scanning
Blue-laser capture, hand metrology, and parametric CAD reconstruction. Parts, models, or both.
Reverse Engineering & Replacement Parts
Legacy hardware, discontinued components, broken parts — if you can describe it or send a sample, we can rebuild it. Take finished parts, the CAD model, a dimensioned drawing, or all three.
Note: parts must be shipped to or handed off at our Waxhaw, NC facility. No on-site scanning at this time.
One of the genuinely satisfying parts of this work. Your machine breaks, the OEM is out of business or wants $400 for a $12 part, and you need it Tuesday. Send us the broken piece and a description of what it does — we'll measure it, model it, and print a functional replacement. Often in a better material than the original.
What we'll do with your reference
- From a sample part: blue-laser 3D scan, critical dimensions verified with calipers and micrometers, then parametric CAD reconstruction
- From a drawing: direct CAD model and print
- From a description and photos: we'll iterate — first article, your feedback, revision, final
- For broken pieces: we can usually reconstruct missing geometry from the surviving part
The honest caveat
If the original was die-cast aluminum or steel and is taking real mechanical load, we'll tell you whether a printed replacement is realistic or whether you need a machine shop. Sometimes the answer is "yes, in PA-CF this'll outlast the original" and sometimes it's "no, you need 4140 and we'll point you to someone who does that." Honest answers, every time.
See the full reverse engineering process, equipment, and use cases →
Scan-to-CAD & Drawings
The model and the drawing, without the parts. For shops that already have their own machining, molding, or tooling and just need a clean, editable file, or a print they can quote from.
Sometimes you don't need us to make anything. You have a machine shop, or a molder, or an engineer who will take it from here, and what is actually missing is a CAD model of a part that only exists as a physical object. We scan it, rebuild it properly, and hand over the file.
What you get
- A real solid model, not a shrink-wrapped mesh. True datums, real hole patterns, clean radii, features that can be edited.
- Rebuilt to nominal, with wear removed and broken geometry reconstructed, unless you specifically want the as-found condition captured.
- A dimensional report listing the critical dimensions we measured by hand and how they compare to the model.
- The file is yours. No licensing games, no per-use fees, no holding the model hostage to keep the manufacturing.
Why this exists
Plenty of shops have capacity and no way to digitize. Sending a part out for scanning usually means either a service bureau that returns a mesh you can't work with, or a metrology house priced for aerospace. This sits in between: engineering-grade capture, a model you can actually open and change, and no obligation to buy parts you don't need. See the full process →
Most additive shops fall into three categories. We're the fourth.
Marketplaces route your file to whoever's cheapest. Hobby outfits run consumer-grade hardware. High-volume production houses have minimums that don't fit one-off engineering work. Clarke Additive is the precision shop you call when the marketplace quote loop is too slow, when production houses can't take your run because the quantity is too low, and when you need engineering judgment baked into the part — not just a print.
- Custom brackets, mounts, ducts, housings, and adapters
- Obsolete or broken plastic parts you can't source anymore
- Functional prototypes that need to behave like the real thing
- Short runs — anywhere from 1 to 500 parts
- Jobs where fit, strength, material choice, or durability actually matter
- Parts where you want engineering input, not just a print button
- Cheap decorative PLA prints
- Large production runs of 10,000+ identical parts (an injection molder will beat us)
- Tight-tolerance metal parts (a CNC shop will beat us)
- Certified aerospace, medical, or life-safety parts — we don't supply safety-critical parts that require formal certification
- Jobs where the cheapest possible print is the only goal
Not sure which side your project falls on? Send it over — if it's not a fit, we'll tell you honestly and point you toward someone who is.
Capabilities & Materials.
A plain-language guide to our process, the materials we work with, and what you can expect from every order.
What is 3D printing, and when does it make sense?
Additive manufacturing (3D printing) builds parts layer by layer from a digital file, depositing molten material precisely according to your design. Unlike CNC machining — which removes material from a block — additive processes can create complex internal geometry, undercuts, and hollow structures that would be impossible or costly to machine.
Modern industrial-grade FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printers, paired with engineering-grade materials, routinely produce parts that meet engineering tolerances and withstand real-world mechanical loads, heat, and chemical exposure. This is not the same technology as a desktop hobbyist printer.
It's a good fit for: functional prototypes and design validation, low-volume production where tooling costs aren't justified, custom one-off parts, legacy components no longer commercially available, and small housings or enclosures where off-the-shelf doesn't fit. It's generally not the best choice for very high volumes (1000+ units), parts requiring tighter than ±0.1mm precision, or applications requiring material certification (flight hardware, medical implants). If you're unsure, ask — we'll tell you honestly.
Engineering-grade thermoplastics.
Each material has distinct mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. We'll recommend the right one for your application — or work with your existing specification.
PETG
ASA
Nylon PA-CF
PC-Blend
TPU
PLA-Pro
Same part. Four materials.
Specs only tell you so much. Here’s the same clamp body printed in four of our most-used materials — so you can see the surface finish and how each one carries the same geometry. We use parts like this one when we’re helping a customer pick the right material for their application.
PA12-CF
Matte, slightly textured surface from the carbon fill. Very stiff, dimensionally stable, lower moisture pickup than PA6-based nylons. Our default for structural brackets, mounts, and frames that need to hold their shape under load.
ASA
Smooth satin finish — the closest to an injection-molded look of the four. UV-stable and weather-resistant where ABS would chalk or yellow. The go-to for parts that see sunlight or live outside.
PET-CF
Matte texture similar to PA-CF, but drier and more dimensionally stable in warm or humid environments. Good chemical resistance. Strong choice for tooling, fixtures, and parts seeing solvents.
Matte PLA
Soft matte finish, dimensionally accurate, prints clean. Limited heat tolerance (~60°C) and no UV stability. Strictly for aesthetic prototypes, fit checks, and indoor concept models — not load or environment.
Digitizing parts that only exist as objects.
Some jobs arrive as a CAD file. Others arrive as a physical thing with no drawing behind it: a broken component, a hand-modified prototype, an assembly nobody documented. Capturing that accurately is its own capability, separate from printing, and it runs on its own equipment.
Scanning gives shape. Hand metrology gives the dimensions that decide whether a part fits. Both go into a parametric CAD rebuild, so what you get back is a model you can edit rather than a mesh you are stuck with.
Worth being clear about: this is engineering-grade capture, not certified CMM inspection. We do not issue inspection reports to a metrology standard. If your spec requires that, you need a metrology house, and we will say so.
Full reverse engineering process →- Modes
- Cross laser, parallel laser, structured light, turntable
- Accuracy
- Up to 0.02 mm single frame
- Precision
- Up to 0.01 mm single frame
- Volumetric
- 0.02 mm + 0.04 mm × L(m)
- Fixturing
- Dual-axis turntable, marker kit, calibration board
- Instruments
- Digital calipers, micrometers
- Verified
- Bores, hole patterns, thickness, fits
- CAD
- Onshape, parametric solid model
- Delivered
- STEP, STL, 3MF, PDF drawing
Inspection that matches your requirements.
Parts are checked against your requirements, not just approved by eye — and for jobs that need it, that work can be documented.
First-Article Approval
When a job calls for it, the first part is measured against critical dimensions and documented before the rest of the run proceeds.
Material Traceability
For production jobs, material lot and print settings can be logged and documented when your application requires it.
Calibrated Measurement
Dimensional checks are performed with calibrated calipers and digital gauges. Results are compared against your drawing, not estimated by feel.
Honest About Problems
If a part falls outside of spec, you hear about it — it's never quietly shipped. We tell you what happened and how we resolved it before delivery.
Technical capabilities at a glance.
Standard operating parameters. Edge cases and special requirements are welcome — just include them in your RFQ.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Build Volume | 350 × 320 × 325 mm (13.8 × 12.6 × 12.8 in); larger assemblies available via multi-part print |
| Dimensional Tolerance | ±0.008 in (0.2 mm) or ±0.5%, whichever is greater. Tighter tolerances achievable on small parts in PLA-Pro, PETG, and ASA, or via post-processing (drilling, reaming, hand-finishing) — specify requirements in your RFQ and we'll quote accordingly. |
| Layer Resolution | 0.10 – 0.30 mm (application and material dependent) |
| Minimum Feature Size | ~1.0 mm wall thickness (material and geometry dependent) |
| Accepted File Formats | STL, STEP (.stp / .step), OBJ, 3MF — STEP preferred for tight-tolerance work. No file? A physical part is a valid input. |
| 3D Scanning | Blue laser and full-field structured light, four capture modes. Up to 0.02 mm single-frame accuracy; volumetric 0.02 mm + 0.04 mm × L(m). In-house only — parts ship to Waxhaw, NC. |
| Dimensional Verification | Digital calipers and micrometers on all critical dimensions. Engineering-grade capture, not certified CMM inspection. |
| Reverse Engineering Output | Finished parts, a parametric solid model rebuilt to nominal geometry (STEP, STL, 3MF), and a dimensioned PDF drawing with critical dimensions and tolerances called out — any one of the three, or all of them. Printing is optional. Model ownership transfers on model-only and drawing-only jobs. |
| Reverse Engineering Lead Time | 7–21 days depending on reconstruction effort; 5–14 days for scan-to-CAD delivery without parts |
| Standard Lead Time | 5–10 business days from approved quote |
| Expedited Lead Time | 2–3 business days (surcharge applies; subject to availability) |
| Minimum Order | 1 unit; $500 project minimum on engineering-design jobs |
| Volume Pricing | Tiered pricing from 10+ units; quote based on geometry and material |
| Quality Documentation | Material lot, print settings, inspection notes, and first-article approval — available for production jobs when required |
| Post-Processing | Support removal, light sanding, thread tapping — specify requirements in RFQ |
Where we are today — and where we're heading.
We bring contract-manufacturing discipline to additive work today, and we're building toward formal quality certifications over the next 24 months. Here's the honest picture.
- Veteran-Owned Small Business (self-certified)
- Documentation and inspection practices available for jobs that require them
- Goal ISO 9001:2015 quality management system
- Next Expanded production capacity & material library
- Later In-house FEA & design optimization services
Our Process.
Real engineering shops share their thinking. Here's how we approach the work, what we need from you to quote accurately, and how to think about additive manufacturing for your project — whether you hire us or not.
When does 3D printing make sense?
The honest answer to a question most shops won't answer honestly — because they want every job, regardless of whether it's the right method.
3D printing is one tool among several. CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, and casting all have applications where they win on cost, performance, or both. The right answer depends on quantity, geometry, material requirements, and tolerance.
Quick decision matrix
| Factor | 3D Printing wins | Other method wins |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | 1 to ~500 units | 1,000+ units (injection molding) |
| Geometry | Complex internal features, organic shapes, undercuts | Simple prismatic or rotational shapes (machining) |
| Material | Engineering thermoplastics | Metal load-bearing parts (machining); rubber (molding) |
| Tolerance | ±0.008 in (0.2 mm) without post-processing | ±0.025mm or tighter (machining) |
| Lead time | Days, no tooling | Weeks-to-months acceptable |
| Iteration | Design will change — no tooling cost | Design is locked, will run forever |
| Cost per unit | Depends on size and material | High-volume parts: molding always wins |
If you're not sure, ask us
We'll tell you whether your project is a fit or not, with a real reason. We don't take jobs that should go elsewhere — it wastes your money and our time.
What we need to quote your part
The more of these you can answer upfront, the faster and more accurate your quote will be. None are required — we'll ask follow-ups if needed.
You don't need to provide all of this. A rough description is enough to start. But every item below makes the quote more accurate and reduces the back-and-forth.
- 3D file — STEP preferred for tight-tolerance work; STL or 3MF accepted. PDF drawings welcome alongside.
- Quantity — one part, ten parts, or "I'll need 200 over the next six months" all change how we approach the work.
- End-use environment — indoor/outdoor, temperature range, UV exposure, chemical contact, mechanical load. Drives material selection.
- Critical dimensions — which features actually need to hold tolerance. Often only 2–3 dimensions on a part are critical.
- Mating parts or assembly context — what does this part fit into, attach to, or work with?
- Surface finish expectations — visible cosmetic surface? Internal hidden surface? Smoothed? As-printed?
- Threaded features — tapped plastic threads, heat-set inserts, or hardware passing through clearance holes?
- Timeline — nice-to-have date, hard deadline, or "whenever it's ready"?
- Budget — helps us steer the design toward the right material and process choices.
The single most useful thing you can tell us
What does the part have to do? Not what it looks like, not its dimensions — what's its job? "It holds this sensor at exactly this angle while the assembly vibrates at 60Hz" tells us more than a dimensioned drawing alone, because it lets us catch design issues you might not see.
When the part is the only documentation
Everything above assumes you have a design. Plenty of jobs start the other way round: a physical object and nothing else. That path runs differently, so here is what changes.
If there is no drawing, no CAD file, and no part number, the part itself becomes the specification. We scan it, measure the dimensions that matter by hand, and rebuild it as a parametric model. Only then does it become a printing job like any other.
What changes on your end
- The part has to reach us. All scanning is done in-house in Waxhaw, NC. Ship it, or arrange a local hand-off if you are in the Charlotte area. We do not scan on site.
- Broken is fine. Send every piece. Missing geometry can usually be reconstructed from the surviving side, and symmetric features get made symmetric again.
- Tell us what it does, not just what it looks like. What it bolts to, what moves against it, and what killed it. That determines whether a printed replacement is realistic at all.
- Expect a longer clock. 7 to 21 days rather than 5 to 10, because the measurement and modelling work sits in front of the printing.
- You may not want parts at all. If you have your own machining or tooling, we can stop at the model, or at a dimensioned drawing your shop can quote from. Printing is the optional step, not the point.
Rebuilt to nominal, not to the damage
This is the part worth understanding. A scan is a snapshot of one worn, cracked, twenty-year-old component, wear and crack included. Print that mesh and you have manufactured the same failure. What we build instead is the part as designed: true datums, real hole patterns, clean radii, wear removed. Which also means the model can be changed later, rather than being a frozen copy of a bad day.
The full reverse engineering process, equipment, and honest limits →
Designing for FDM
Practical guidelines for designing parts that print well, look clean, and behave the way you expect them to.
Most parts come to us designed for machining or molding. The geometry that's easy for those processes isn't always easy for FDM — and vice versa. A few principles cover most cases.
Wall thickness
Minimum reliable wall thickness is roughly 1.0–1.2mm for most engineering thermoplastics, though we usually recommend 2.0mm or more for structural walls. Below 1.0mm, success depends heavily on geometry and orientation. If your design has thin features, flag them in your RFQ — we may suggest thickening them or reorienting the print.
Overhangs and bridges
Overhangs steeper than 45° from vertical generally need support material. Supports leave witness marks on the surface they touch. If a face is cosmetic, we'll orient the print to keep supports off that face whenever possible. Bridges (horizontal spans between two walls) print well up to ~10mm without support.
Holes and threads
Holes printed vertically come out roughly 0.1–0.3mm undersize. For precision-fit holes — bearings, dowels, fasteners — we recommend printing slightly undersized and reaming to final dimension. For threaded holes, heat-set brass inserts are far more reliable than tapping printed plastic, especially for repeated assembly. Tapped threads in PA-CF can hold up; tapped threads in most other materials will strip.
Layer orientation and strength
FDM parts are anisotropic — weaker between layers than within them. We'll orient prints so that primary load directions are within the layer plane, not across layers. If you have a part that sees specific loads, tell us about them in the RFQ.
Tolerances achievable
Standard FDM tolerance is roughly ±0.008 in (0.2 mm) or ±0.5%, whichever is greater. Tighter tolerances (±0.004 in / 0.1 mm) are achievable on small parts in dimensionally-stable materials like PETG, ASA, and PLA-Pro, or via post-process drilling/reaming. Call out tight tolerances in your design — we'll quote the post-processing if needed.
Choosing the right material
A plain-language guide to picking the right thermoplastic for your application — without the marketing fluff.
The "best" material depends entirely on what your part has to do. Here's how we think about material selection.
If the part will see outdoor or UV exposure
ASA is the answer 90% of the time. PETG and PC degrade noticeably under UV; ASA holds up for years. PLA-Pro will fail in months outdoors — don't use it.
If the part needs to be stiff and lightweight
PA-CF (carbon-fiber-reinforced nylon). Twice the stiffness of unfilled nylon at lower density. Excellent for brackets, structural parts, and high-stiffness enclosures. Caveats: more expensive, and carbon fiber is abrasive to print nozzles — affects pricing on long runs.
If the part has to take impact
PC-Blend. Polycarbonate blends absorb impact better than nearly any other FDM material. Used for safety covers, drop-resistant housings, and parts that see shock loading.
If the part is a basic enclosure or bracket indoors
PETG. Reliable, affordable, easy to print, decent mechanical properties. The default for general-purpose parts when there's no special environmental requirement.
If the part needs to flex, seal, or grip
TPU. Rubber-like, comes in different shore hardnesses. Good for gaskets, dampeners, cable strain relief, and snap-fit features that need repeated flexing.
If the part is a concept model or display piece
PLA-Pro. Best surface finish, best dimensional accuracy, easiest to post-process. But low heat resistance (~60°C) and poor outdoor durability. For function-critical parts, pick something else.
Not sure?
Tell us the operating environment in your RFQ. We'll recommend a material with reasoning, not just a name.
How a Clarke Additive quote works
What you'll get back when you send us an RFQ — usually within one business day.
Our quotes are reviewed by an engineer, not generated by an algorithm. That takes a little longer than instant marketplace quoting — usually one business day — but you get back something more useful than just a number.
What's in every quote we send
- Price — per-unit and total, with volume tier breaks where applicable
- Lead time — honest, with the reasoning (material on hand vs ordered, complexity, queue depth)
- Recommended material — if you didn't specify, we'll suggest one with reasoning
- DFAM observations — design issues we noticed, with severity flagged (would reject, would rework, just a heads-up)
- Open questions — anything we couldn't determine from your file or description
- Assumptions — what we assumed in pricing (orientation, infill, post-processing) so you can correct if wrong
Why we work this way
Algorithm-priced marketplaces optimize for "click-through rate to checkout." We optimize for "you get parts that work the first time." The extra day of quote review usually saves several days of iteration on a misquoted part later.
Engineering discipline.
Applied to every part.
U.S. military veteran with a Master's in Mechanical Engineering and over 18 years of professional engineering experience in complex hardware development.
That background — design discipline, configuration control, and the habit of getting the details right — informs how Clarke Additive approaches every job.
Clarke Additive brings that same problem-solving discipline to additive manufacturing — with honest communication and documented work at every step.
I'm Brian Clarke — a mechanical engineer and U.S. military veteran based near Charlotte, North Carolina. I started Clarke Additive because a lot of print shops will run whatever file you send them, even when the part is likely to fail. I'd rather review the design first, explain the tradeoffs, recommend the right material, and make sure the part has a real chance of working.
Eighteen years in engineering — on hardware programs where the parts have to work and "close enough" isn't a thing — taught me that the discipline around a part matters as much as the print itself. One kind of work I've always enjoyed is solving obsolescence problems: making a functional replacement for something that no longer exists. That's core to what this shop does.
"Additive manufacturing has matured into a genuinely capable production technology. The discipline around it often hasn't kept pace. That gap is the entire reason this shop exists."
Clarke Additive is built for people who need more than a basic plastic print. Whether you've got a CAD file, a sketch, a broken part, or just an idea, I can help figure out whether 3D printing makes sense — and if it does, how to make the part stronger, cleaner, and more useful.
Engineer with a fully toleranced drawing or a small-business owner describing a broken part from memory — you'll get the same straight answers either way. If I see a problem with your design, I'll tell you before I print it. If something doesn't meet spec, I'll tell you before I ship it.
If you've got a project, reach out. We'll figure out the right approach together.
What you can count on from us.
Honest Quoting
We quote what we can actually deliver — tolerance, lead time, and material — and we flag upfront if your design has features likely to cause problems. No bait-and-switch, no surprises at delivery.
Documented Work
For production jobs, Clarke Additive can document material lot, print settings, inspection notes, and first-article approval when your application requires it — not as an upsell.
Direct Accountability
If something goes wrong, we tell you. Nonconformances are documented, not ignored. We'd rather have an honest conversation upfront than ship a part that fails in your application.
Parts, Designs, & Process.
Printed parts, CAD models, and in-context applications — a look at the kind of work we do.
Request a Quote.
Fill out the form below and we'll respond within one business day with pricing and lead time. No commitment at this stage. Prefer to talk first? Call (704) 307-2206 or email brian@clarkeadditive.com.
Request Received
Thank you for reaching out. We've received your quote request and will respond within one business day with pricing, lead time, and any clarifying questions.