Category: How it’s done

Need to show what your product will look like — or already looks like — without the hassle of a full photoshoot? That’s where renders come in.

A render is a high-quality, realistic image made from your 3D model. We use it to show off your product in the best possible light, whether it’s still in development or already in production.

At Everlab, we create crisp, polished renders for everything from early concept presentations to marketing campaigns and product showcases.

Why use renders?

• Visualise your product before it’s built
• Test colours, materials, and finishes
• Make your idea easy to understand
• Present your product professionally
• Create advertising visuals without physical prototypes or photos

When to use them

Renders are helpful throughout the design and launch process:

• During development – to explore design options or get stakeholder feedback
• During fundraising – to pitch a concept that looks production-ready
• After production – for websites, webshops, packaging, or social media
• Instead of photography – when prototypes are hard to photograph or not available yet

What we can render

• Product shots (clean, professional views)
• In-use scenarios (e.g. in a hand, in a room, on a bike)
• Colour and material variations
• Exploded views and internal layouts
• Presentation-ready images for pitches or sales

We can even help you match your render style to your branding, so everything looks consistent and intentional.

Before we fire up any software or machines, we usually start with something much simpler: pen and paper.

Sketching is one of the fastest, most effective ways to explore ideas, shapes, and functions. It helps us think, test, and communicate — all before diving into the more technical work.

Why we sketch

Sketching isn’t about making pretty pictures (though we do like those too). It’s about quickly trying out ideas, comparing options, and spotting what works and what doesn’t. It’s fast, flexible, and low-cost — perfect for the early stages of product development.

We use sketching to:

• Explore multiple directions quickly
• Communicate ideas clearly with you and your team
• Focus on user interaction and ergonomics
• Lay the foundation for CAD modeling and prototyping

From napkin to next steps

Sometimes it starts with a rough sketch you bring to us. Sometimes we do the sketching based on your idea or problem. Either way, we’ll take it seriously — even a quick doodle can spark something brilliant.

Sketching is where creativity flows freely. It’s where good products begin.

If your product includes long, consistent shapes — like rails, tubes, housings, or channels — extrusion is a highly efficient way to produce them. It’s especially useful for lightweight structural parts, and often used in aluminium and various plastics.

At Everlab, we design parts specifically for extrusion and guide you through the process, from smart geometry to compatible post-processing. While we don’t extrude materials in-house, we work closely with experienced partners to get it right.

What is extrusion?

Extrusion is a production method where heated material (usually aluminium or plastic) is pushed through a die to create a continuous shape — like squeezing toothpaste from a tube, but with precision and purpose.

Once cooled, the material is cut to length and often drilled, milled, anodized, or coated afterwards.

Why choose extrusion?

• Efficient for long, uniform shapes
• Cost-effective in medium to large quantities
• Excellent strength-to-weight ratio (especially in aluminium)
• Clean, professional appearance
• Works well with secondary operations (like anodizing or machining)

Common applications

Extrusion is a great choice for:

• Frames and enclosures
• Rails, tracks, and guides
• Heat sinks
• Tubes and hollow profiles
• Functional decorative trims

When it makes sense

We often recommend extrusion when:

• Your part has a consistent cross-section
• You need precise length and good straightness
• Weight reduction is important (e.g. aluminium frames)
• You’re ready for a dedicated die investment for scalable production

Custom tooling (a die) is usually required, but the payback is fast if you’re making more than a handful of parts.

How we support extrusion

We can:

• Design extrusion-friendly parts, with proper wall thicknesses, tolerances, and uniform cross-sections
• Help select the right material and finish
• Prepare drawings for production and finishing
• Coordinate with extrusion and finishing partners for reliable delivery

Have a shape that runs the distance? Let’s extrude it.

3D printing is one of our go-to tools when developing new products. It’s fast, relatively low-cost, and great for bringing ideas to life early in the process.

Need to check if your parts fit together? Want to hold your product in your hands before investing in tooling? That’s where 3D printing shines.

How we use 3D printing

We use 3D printing mostly for prototyping, but it can also be handy for small production runs or unique, custom-made parts.

With 3D printing, we can:

• Quickly test different versions of a design

• Make functional mockups (hinges, clips, moving parts)

• Experiment with shapes, ergonomics, and form

• Show your product to users, partners, or investors early on

The right material for the job

Not all 3D prints are created equal. Depending on what we’re making, we choose the right technique and material. Some prints are rough and ready for internal testing, others are polished and presentable for demos or photography.

We work with techniques like:

• FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) – affordable and great for quick tests

• SLA (Stereolithography) – high-detail prints, good for visual models

• SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) – strong, functional parts for working prototypes

If needed, we can finish your prints with sanding, painting, or coatings — whatever’s needed to get the look and feel just right.

3D printing lets us move fast, learn quickly, and keep your project moving forward without blowing the budget.

Some products just need to be solid. When separate metal parts need to become one strong, unified whole — we weld.

At Everlab, we offer manual welding for both steel and aluminum, whether it’s for a prototype, a one-off part, or a small production run. It’s a flexible technique we use to make sure everything fits together perfectly and stays that way.

Why weld?

Welding is ideal when parts need:

• Extra strength and stability
• A seamless, permanent connection
• A clean, professional look
• To hold up under stress or heavy use

We often weld parts like enclosures, frames, brackets, and mechanical supports — especially when they’re made from sheet metal or milled components that need to come together into a single structure.

Materials we weld

Steel – Strong, versatile, and cost-effective. Perfect for structural components or industrial applications. Welded steel is incredibly tough and can be finished in many ways (painted, coated, polished).

Aluminum – Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and clean-looking. Welding aluminum takes a bit more finesse, but it’s great for products where weight and appearance matter.

If you’re unsure which material is best, we’ll help you choose based on strength, weight, looks, and budget.

Built for real-world use

We don’t just weld for the sake of welding — we do it to make your product more durable, better looking, and more functional. Our goal is always the same: solid parts, clean joins, and no weak spots.

Need help designing parts for welding? We’re happy to jump in early and make sure everything is engineered to fit and function perfectly.

Turning is a machining technique we use when your product (or part of it) needs to be round, smooth, and super accurate. Think knobs, axles, spacers, bushings, threads, or anything cylindrical — that’s where turning comes in.

It’s a great way to get strong, clean parts that fit perfectly and function reliably, whether it’s for a prototype or full production.

How turning works

Turning is done on a lathe — a machine that spins a piece of material while a cutting tool shapes it. It sounds simple, but it’s incredibly precise.

With turning, we can:

• Make perfectly round components
• Add grooves, threads, tapers, and holes
• Work with a wide variety of metals and plastics
• Achieve tight tolerances and smooth finishes

Common applications

We often use turning for:

• Mechanical components (shafts, pins, rods)
• Functional test parts
• Custom fasteners or spacers
• Decorative details with a polished look

Materials we turn

We can turn a wide variety of materials, depending on what your part needs to do:

• Aluminum – Lightweight, easy to machine, and corrosion-resistant
• Steel – Strong and solid, good for structural or load-bearing parts
• Stainless steel – Great for durable, corrosion-resistant applications
• Brass – Smooth to machine, with a premium look and feel
• Plastics – Like POM or nylon, for lighter or low-friction parts

One-offs or batches

Whether you need a single turned part for testing or a batch of custom-made components, we can make it happen — either in-house or through one of our machining partners.

Turning is all about precision. If your product has parts that spin, slide, or screw into place, we’ll probably be using it.

Sheet metal is a fantastic option when you need strong, precise parts with a professional finish. It’s especially useful for housings, brackets, enclosures, frames, and other structural components — whether it’s for a prototype or a finished product.

We use a range of techniques to shape and finish sheet metal, depending on what your product needs.

What we can do with sheet metal

• Laser cutting – for clean, accurate shapes (even complex ones)
• Laser engraving – to add logos, part numbers, or decorative details
• Bending – to create 3D forms from flat sheets
• Welding – to combine separate parts into one strong piece

These techniques can be combined to make everything from simple mounting plates to fully assembled enclosures.

Materials we work with

Each metal has its own strengths. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose:

• Stainless steel – Durable, corrosion-resistant, and has a sleek, modern look. Great for outdoor use, kitchen products, or anything that needs to last.
• Steel – Strong and affordable. Ideal for structural parts. Can be coated or painted for protection and looks.
• Aluminum – Lightweight and corrosion-resistant. Perfect for parts that need to be strong but not heavy — like electronics housings or transportable equipment.
• Brass – Eye-catching and elegant, with a gold-like finish. Often used for decorative details, control panels, or luxury products.

If you’re not sure which material is right, we’ll help you figure it out based on what your product needs to do, where it’s used, and how it needs to look.

From flat sheet to finished part

We can laser-cut and bend parts. If your design needs multiple parts joined together, we also offer welding, so everything fits and functions as one solid piece.

Sheet metal is one of those techniques that just works — clean, strong, and built to last.

Need your metal parts to stand up to wear, weather, and daily use — while looking great? Powder coating is a strong, vibrant, and long-lasting finish that’s perfect for steel, stainless steel, and aluminium components.

At Everlab, we don’t powder coat in-house, but we work with trusted partners to make sure your parts are coated beautifully and consistently. Whether you need one bold colour or a full batch in brand-matched shades, we’ve got you covered.

What is powder coating?

Powder coating is a dry finishing process. A fine coloured powder is electrostatically applied to a metal part, then baked in an oven. The powder melts and fuses into a smooth, durable skin.

The result? A hard-wearing, attractive surface that resists scratches, chips, and corrosion — with a wide range of colours and textures to choose from.

Why choose powder coating?

• Super tough – Great for high-traffic or outdoor products
• Colourful & consistent – Wide palette of finishes available
• Even coverage – Great for complex shapes
• Eco-friendlier – No solvents, overspray can be reused
• Professional look – Gloss, matte, metallic, and textured options

When to use powder coating

It’s a great choice when you want your metal parts to:

• Look sharp and polished
• Withstand frequent handling or rough environments
• Match a specific colour (like your brand colour)
• Avoid corrosion or surface wear
• Be suitable for outdoor use or moisture exposure

Common applications include brackets, frames, panels, casings, handles, and any visible metal part that needs to look good and stay that way.

How we support it

We make sure your parts are ready for coating — with proper edge finishing, tolerancing, and surface prep. We can also:

• Help choose the right colour and texture
• Design around areas that shouldn’t be coated (e.g. threads or fits)
• Work with our coating partners to keep quality high and lead times low

Looking for a finish that’s as strong as it is striking? Powder coating is a solid choice — and we’ll help you get it done right.

How a product looks and feels is just as important as how it works. That’s why we offer spray painting to give your prototype or small production run the finish it deserves.

A well-finished model not only looks great — it helps tell the story of your product. Whether you’re showing it to investors, testing it with users, or using it for a photoshoot, a clean coat of paint makes all the difference.

Why spray painting?

Spray painting gives you:

• A smooth, professional surface
• Custom colours (Pantone, RAL, or matched by eye)
• Matte, satin, or gloss finishes
• Texture control – from soft-touch to high-gloss
• A more realistic feel – especially for visual models

Whether your prototype is 3D printed, milled, or cast, spray painting can transform it into something that looks (and photographs) like the final product.

When we recommend it

Spray painting is perfect when:

• You want to test or present colour and finish options
• You’re preparing a high-fidelity prototype for a pitch or investor meeting
• You’re using a model in marketing materials or a product video
• You need to cover up layer lines or surface imperfections from 3D prints

We typically do spray painting in-house for one-offs or small batches, and can also coordinate with finishing specialists for more demanding work or larger quantities.

Finish isn’t just about looks

A well-finished prototype builds confidence. It helps people imagine your product in the real world — on a shelf, in their home, or in their hand.

At Everlab, we treat finishing as part of the design — not an afterthought.