3D3D Contact

Manufacturing & fabrication

Structural work,
welded to spec.

Steel fabrication, MIG/TIG/Stick/Flux-core welding, reverse engineering, and field work. Backed by High End Welding (HEWS) and proven on the Ironclad build. Fixed-price quote within 24 hours.

Send a brief Email a human

3D3D handles structural steel fabrication, MIG/TIG/Stick welding, metal finishing, and on-site field work. In partnership with High End Welding (HEWS), every process is proven on real jobs — most recently the Ironclad build — before it reaches you.

Backed by

HEWS backs the shop and Mr Jumpa. Prusa sponsors the printer fleet.

What we do

What manufacturing services are available?

Fabrication, welding, finishing, and precision jig work that makes complex assemblies accurate. All processes are in-house or coordinated directly through the HEWS partnership.

Structural

Structural steel fabrication

Frames, brackets, gussets, and mounting structures in mild steel and A500 tube. Cut to drawing, fitted tight, welded to spec. The Ironclad build — our complete record job for HEWS — ran plate steel from blank stock to finished weld.

Stainless

Stainless and aluminium

304 and 316 stainless and 6061/5052 aluminium for hardware, guards, tanks, and precision fittings. TIG-welded where appearance, corrosion resistance, or tight tolerance is the requirement.

Jigs + Fixtures

Precision alignment jigs

Printed alignment jigs, drill guides, and clamping fixtures from the Prusa Core One L. Precise geometry transferred from digital model to the weld table, cutting fit-up time on complex assemblies without machined tooling costs.

Finishing

Metal finishing and prep

Grind smooth, brushed finish, mill-scale removal, and powder-coat-ready surface prep. Every weld is ground or blended to the specified finish standard before it leaves the shop.

Reverse eng.

Reverse engineering and fab

No drawing? We measure, model, and fabricate from a broken part or a photo. Discontinued hardware recreated in better-matched metal with current tolerances. Starts at $75 for simple parts.

Field

On-site field work

Portable welding for structures that cannot come to the shop — yard, dock, or site. Field days start from $1,200 plus travel. Scoped per job; enquire by email first so we can confirm it warrants a day on-site.

Named proof

Who backs the manufacturing work?

High End Welding (HEWS) is the named partner. The Ironclad build is the on-the-record job. Both are real — not aspirational.

Partner · High End Welding

HEWS backs this shop

High End Welding is the named partner behind 3D3D's manufacturing capability. HEWS sponsors Mr Jumpa — our 1977 Farr 38 One Tonner on the Saint John River — where fabricated parts prove themselves in a real working environment before they reach customers. The relationship is structural: HEWS provides the industrial backing that lets us quote large structural jobs with confidence.

Build record · Ironclad

The Ironclad build

The Ironclad project is 3D3D's most complete manufacturing record: structural steel fabrication, TIG stainless work, precision alignment jigs, and finish prep — all on a single job for HEWS. Reverse engineered from worn originals, modelled to current tolerances, welded and finished to handover standard.

That build is the proof of capability referenced on this page.

HEWS Named partner · High End Welding
Ironclad Structural fabrication record job
24 hr Fixed-price quote turnaround
$1,200 Field days from · plus travel
Processes

Which welding process is right for the job?

Process is selected by material, joint geometry, and environment. The table shows where each process is the right call — and we explain the choice in your quote.

ProcessBase materialsBest for
MIG / GMAWMild steel, aluminiumGeneral fabrication, brackets, structural
TIG / GTAWStainless 304/316, aluminium 6061Precision joints, corrosion-critical work
Stick / SMAWMild steel, cast ironHeavy plate, field repair
Flux-core / FCAWStructural steelOutdoor structural, thick-section joins

Process choice is documented in every quote. We do not default to MIG because it is faster — we pick what is correct for the joint.

Materials

What metals can you fabricate?

Grade and spec are stated in every quote — you see exactly what material we are ordering before work starts.

MaterialGrade / specTypical use
Mild steelA36 plate, A500 tubeGeneral structural, frames, brackets
Structural steelA992 / HSS sectionsLoad-bearing frames, headers
Stainless304, 316 sheet and tubeCorrosion-critical, food-grade, aesthetic joints
Aluminium6061-T6, 5052-H32Weight-sensitive structures, hardware
Galvanised stockPre-galv sheet and tubeAvailable — surface prep noted in quote

Other alloys available on request. Galvanised stock requires surface prep before welding — we include this in the scope and price it openly.

Process

How does a manufacturing job run?

Four steps, every job — shop work or field. You hand over the brief; we deliver a complete, inspected piece.

  1. 01

    Send the brief

    Email a drawing, a photo of the broken part, or a written description with dimensions. No form, no brief template — plain language is enough to start.

  2. 02

    Quote within 24 hours

    A real person reviews the job and sends a fixed-price quote: material, welding process, finish, and timeline. Scope changes are flagged before work starts, not after.

  3. 03

    Fabrication

    We cut, fit, weld, and finish to the spec. Alignment jigs are printed in-house where they save fit-up time on complex geometry. You get progress notes at key stages.

  4. 04

    Delivery or field install

    Shop jobs are packaged and shipped or picked up. Field jobs are scheduled with a site visit built in. Either way, you take delivery of a complete, inspected piece.

Straight answers

Questions about manufacturing.

What welding processes do you use?
MIG (GMAW) for general steel and aluminium fabrication. TIG (GTAW) for stainless, precision aluminium, and joints where appearance or corrosion resistance matters. Stick (SMAW) for heavy plate and field repair. Flux-core (FCAW) for structural outdoor steel. Process is selected by material, joint geometry, and environment — we explain the choice in every quote.
What metals can you fabricate?
Mild steel (A36 plate, A500 tube), structural steel (A992, HSS sections), stainless 304 and 316, and aluminium 6061 and 5052. Galvanised stock is available with pre-weld surface prep noted in the quote. Other alloys are quoted per job.
Who is HEWS and how does the partnership work?
High End Welding (HEWS) is the named industry partner that backs 3D3D's manufacturing capability. HEWS sponsors Mr Jumpa — our 1977 Farr 38 One Tonner on the Saint John River — where welded and fabricated parts prove themselves in a working environment before they reach customers. The Ironclad build, 3D3D's most complete structural fabrication record, was a HEWS project. The relationship is structural: HEWS provides the industrial credibility and backing that lets us quote large structural jobs with confidence.
What is the Ironclad build?
The Ironclad project is 3D3D's fullest manufacturing record to date: structural steel fabrication, TIG stainless work, printed alignment jigs, and finish prep all on a single job for HEWS. Reverse engineering from worn originals, modelled to current tolerances, welded and finished to handover standard. It is the proof of capability referenced on this page.
How do printed alignment jigs factor into welding jobs?
Printed alignment jigs, drill guides, and clamping fixtures with precise geometry from the digital model cut fit-up time and reduce the chance of a costly mis-weld on complex assemblies. They are a standard part of our process where they are useful, not an add-on.
Can you do on-site field work?
Yes. Field days start from $1,200 plus travel, scoped per job. Field work is for structures that cannot come to the shop — large assemblies, in-place repairs, or installations with critical alignment requirements. Enquire by email first and we will tell you whether a field day is the right call or whether shipping the piece is more practical.
What does reverse engineering cost?
Reverse engineering starts at $75 for simple parts — measure, model, confirm. Complex reverse engineering (multi-component assemblies, worn or damaged source parts, tight tolerances) is quoted per job. Once the model is done, fabrication is quoted separately and priced on material and process.
What finish options are available?
Grind smooth (weld bead levelled to base metal), brushed finish for stainless, mill-scale removal, and powder-coat-ready surface prep. Paint and powder coat are not done in-house, but we deliver the piece ready for the finisher of your choice.
Is there a minimum job size?
No formal minimum. Single-piece repairs, small brackets, and prototype parts are all in scope. Very small jobs may carry a shop minimum to cover setup time — we state this in the quote before you commit to anything.

Ready to fabricate?

Send a drawing.
We build it.

Drawing, photo, or plain-language description. Quote within 24 hours — fixed price, clear process, no surprises after work starts.

Send a brief