What we do
Two manufacturing routes, one supplier
We support aerospace, space and defence teams with precision CNC machining and additive manufacturing under one roof — functional prototypes, flight-representative test articles, tooling and jigs, ground support equipment, and non-flight-critical low-volume production. Lightweight, complex, and made to your drawings with full traceability.
- 3, 4 and 5-axis machining in aerospace-grade metals.
- SLS, SLA and metal DMLS additive manufacturing.
- Design-for-manufacture and design-for-additive review on every part.
- Material certificates, first-article and dimensional reports on request.
Machining & 3D printing
The right process for the part
CNC Machining
3, 4 and 5-axis milling and turning of aluminium (6061, 7075, 2024), titanium Ti-6Al-4V, stainless (316L, 17-4PH) and Inconel (625, 718). Tight tolerances, GD&T, and controlled surface finishes for brackets, fittings, housings, manifolds and machined fixtures.
Best for: load-bearing parts, tight tolerances, machined-from-solid metal
3D Printing / Additive
SLS nylon (PA12, PA11, glass- and carbon-filled) for ducting, cowlings, non-structural brackets and jigs; SLA for wind-tunnel and fit models; metal DMLS (AlSi10Mg, Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 718) for topology-optimised brackets, heat exchangers and lattice structures.
Best for: lightweighting, complex geometry, consolidated assemblies, ducting
A dedicated capability
We machine exclusively for satellite & space components
Satellite hardware is machined, not printed — and we run a ring-fenced flow for it. Dimensional stability, material provenance and cleanliness matter as much as the tolerance, so stock is stress-relieved, machining is split across roughing and finishing passes, and parts are handled and packed for clean assembly.
- Thin-wall, deep-pocketed aluminium structures (6061-T6, 7075-T7351).
- Titanium and Invar for optical benches and dimensionally critical mounts.
- Non-magnetic stainless where a low magnetic signature is required.
- Stress-relieved and, where specified, cryo-treated stock to control distortion.
- Alodine / chem-film, hard anodise and other space-compatible finishes.
Applications
What we make for aerospace
Materials
Aerospace-grade metals & polymers
Metals — machined & DMLS
Polymers — SLS, FDM & SLA
FST (flame, smoke, toxicity) grades are available for cabin and interior parts. Tell us the specification and we will confirm the grade.
Why Printlay
Built for demanding, low-volume work
Tolerance & inspection
GD&T-driven machining with CMM and dimensional reports against your drawing.
Lightweighting
Topology optimisation and lattice structures on metal DMLS to cut mass without losing stiffness.
Traceability & docs
Material certs, batch traceability, first-article and dimensional reports on request.
DFM / DfAM review
Every part reviewed for its process before cutting or printing — fewer iterations.
Low-volume economics
One-off prototypes to small production batches without hard tooling.
NDA & IP control
Confidential handling of drawings and data; NDA signed before you share anything.
How we work
Drawing to delivered part
Requirement review
Drawing, model, material spec, tolerances, finish, quantity and any documentation needs.
DFM / DfAM
We confirm machining or additive, flag design changes, and select the material and process.
Manufacture
Machined from solid, or printed on SLS, SLA or metal DMLS, with in-process checks.
Finish & inspect
Heat treat, anodise, passivate or coat; then dimensional inspection and documentation before dispatch.
FAQ
Common questions
Do you make flight-critical aerospace parts?
We focus on prototypes, flight-representative test articles, tooling, jigs, ground support equipment and non-flight-critical low-volume production. Parts are made to your drawings and inspection requirements; flight-critical certification is defined and owned by your programme.
Which aerospace metals can you machine or 3D print?
Machined: aluminium 6061, 7075 and 2024, titanium Ti-6Al-4V, stainless 316L and 17-4PH, and Inconel 625 and 718. Metal 3D printed (DMLS): AlSi10Mg, Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 718.
Can you print FST-rated cabin parts?
Yes — we print ULTEM 9085 and 1010 (PEI) and flame-retardant grades that meet common flammability, smoke and toxicity requirements for interior and non-structural parts.
Do you provide material certificates and traceability?
Yes. Material certificates, batch traceability, a first-article inspection report and a dimensional report are available on request with every order.
What is the minimum order?
A single part. We are built for prototypes and low-volume aerospace work, and scale into small production batches.
Do you machine satellite and space components?
Yes — satellite and space hardware is machined rather than printed, and we run a ring-fenced flow for it: stress-relieved stock, split roughing and finishing passes to control distortion, non-magnetic and dimensionally stable materials such as Invar and titanium, space-compatible finishes, and clean handling and packing. Typical parts are CubeSat structures, payload brackets, isostatic mounts, waveguide and RF housings, and optical bench components.
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