FDM printing
PLA, PETG, ABS and carbon filled nylon for functional prototypes and jigs, up to 300mm cubed.
Printing since 2019, 34 machines
Upload a file, get a price in ninety seconds
FDM, resin and nylon printing plus finishing, with a real engineer reviewing every file for printability before we take your money.
34printers running
3 daysstandard lead time
12materials stocked
1 to 500part quantities
Processes and materials
Pick a process, or let us pick it for you
Prices are per part and depend on volume and support material. The instant quote tool gives you an exact number.
SLA resin printing
50 micron layers for fine detail, dental models, miniatures and casting patterns.
SLS nylon printing
Strong isotropic parts with no supports, ideal for living hinges, clips and end use enclosures.
Design for manufacturing review
We flag thin walls, unsupported overhangs and tolerance problems before you spend on a run.
Finishing and painting
Support removal, vapor smoothing, sanding, primer and color matched paint.
Short run production
50 to 500 identical parts with per part inspection and a first article report.
About the shop
Engineers running the machines, not just operators
Vector Forge started in 2019 in a garage in Lawrenceville with four printers and now runs 34 machines out of a bay in the Strip District. Two of our four staff are mechanical engineers, which is why every uploaded file gets a printability check rather than being sent straight to the queue.
•Every file reviewed by a human before printing, and we email you if we see a problem
•Your files are never shared, reused or shown as examples without written permission
•Standard lead time of three business days, one day rush available
•ITAR registered for controlled work, ask us before uploading
Reviews
From engineers and designers
“They caught a 0.4mm wall in my enclosure that would have failed and emailed me a fix before printing. That saved a whole week.”
Priya D., hardware startup, Pittsburgh
“Ordered 220 SLS clips on a Monday, had them Thursday, and every one measured within tolerance.”
Kevin M., short run production
FAQ
Printing questions we answer daily
What file formats do you accept?
STL and STEP for most work, and we also handle 3MF, OBJ and IGES. STEP is best if tolerances matter, since it preserves the real geometry rather than a triangulated approximation. Upload it to the quote tool and you will get a price in about ninety seconds.
Which process should I choose?
FDM for functional prototypes and fixtures where cost matters most, SLA when you need fine surface detail or crisp text, and SLS for strong end use parts with complex geometry that would need supports otherwise. If you are unsure, upload the file and tell us how the part is used, we will recommend one at no charge.
How tight are your tolerances?
FDM holds around plus or minus 0.5mm or 0.5 percent, whichever is greater. SLA is closer to plus or minus 0.15mm and SLS around plus or minus 0.3mm. If a specific feature needs to be tighter than that, tell us and we will either machine it after printing or tell you honestly that printing is the wrong process.
Who owns the files I upload?
You do, entirely. We use your file to make your parts and for nothing else. We do not reuse geometry, show it as a sample or share it with anyone. Files are deleted from active storage after 180 days unless you ask us to keep them for reorders.
Contact
Upload a part and see the price
The quote tool handles most jobs in under two minutes. For anything unusual, email the file and we will reply with a plan the same day.
Phone(412) 555-0198
Address1900 Smallman Street, Bay 3, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
HoursMon to Fri 8am to 6pm, machines run overnight
AreaShips nationwide, local pickup in Pittsburgh