What is a threaded insert in 3D printing?
A threaded insert is a metal component — usually brass — installed into a printed part to give it a strong, reusable metal thread. Because plastic threads wear and strip under repeated assembly, an insert lets a printed part be bolted together and taken apart many times without damaging the thread. We most commonly heat-set inserts, which use controlled heat and pressure to reflow the plastic around the insert body.
What are Bighead fixings?
Bighead fixings are bonded fasteners with a perforated base — studs, bosses and plates that bond to a surface and spread load across a wide footprint. They are used where there is no room to tap a thread, where a wall is too thin for an insert, or where a fixing point is needed with access from only one side. We install them alongside threaded inserts to create load-bearing attachment points on printed parts.
Why not just print the thread?
A thread printed or cut directly into plastic works for light, occasional use, but it wears quickly and strips under repeated assembly or higher torque. A metal insert gives a durable, reusable thread that behaves like one in a machined metal part — which is what most functional and production parts need.
Which materials can you install inserts into?
Most printed materials take inserts and bonded fixings — FDM, SLS, MJF and SLA parts. The installation method is matched to the material and geometry: heat-set inserts suit most thermoplastics, while press-fit, moulded-in or bonded options are used where heat setting is not appropriate.
Can you add fixings to a part I designed?
Yes. Send us the CAD and tell us where the fixings go and what threads you need. We review the boss sizing and fixing placement free with your quote and will flag anything that needs adjusting before the part is printed, so the fixings hold as intended.
Do you install inserts on production batches?
Yes. We install inserts and bonded fasteners on single prototypes and on production batches with many fixings per part, fitted consistently and inspected in-house as part of the same workflow that prints and finishes the parts.
How strong are installed inserts and fixings?
A correctly installed insert provides a metal thread that takes far more torque and far more assembly cycles than plastic, and a bonded fastener spreads load over a wide base to survive on thin or one-sided walls. They are not a replacement for a welded metal bracket under extreme load — tell us the load and we will confirm the fixing suits it.
How do I order parts with inserts or Bighead fixings?
Add them to an
instant quote with your CAD, or
contact us to talk the fixings through first. We print, install and inspect in-house in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, and ship UK-wide.
