Cold changes the material
A part that works perfectly in the hallway can crack at −20 °C. Plastics become stiffer and more brittle as the temperature drops, and the difference between materials is large. PLA is stiff but already brittle at room temperature and handles impacts poorly in the cold. PETG is tougher and a good standard choice for mounts used outdoors.
ASA copes well with both cold and sun. Polyamide (PA) is very tough and wear-resistant but absorbs moisture, which affects dimensions and stiffness. TPU stays flexible well below zero and suits grips, dampers and guards. We choose the material for the lowest temperature the part must handle and for how it is loaded: steady load, impact or vibration.
Snow and ice affect the design too. Snap fits that must be opened with gloves on get bigger grips and a longer lever. We avoid grooves and cavities where water can collect and freeze, or give them drainage holes, because expanding ice can split even tough materials. A simple test is to leave a sample in the freezer overnight and then bend it – brittle materials reveal themselves at once.
UV, heat and moisture
Sunlight breaks down many plastics over time. The surface fades, becomes chalky and loses toughness. ASA is the FDM material with the best UV resistance, while PLA and PETG age faster in direct sun. A black part in the sun can also get considerably hotter than the air. In a car or on a dark roof box that is enough to make PLA warp. A light-coloured part stays cooler, so for parts that will be outdoors for several seasons, ASA in a light colour is a robust choice.
Moisture mainly affects polyamide, and salt water places demands on the metal parts. Screws and nuts outdoors should be stainless, A2 in normal conditions and A4 near salt water. We design in space for screws, washers and inserts of the right size, so you can buy standard components at your nearest hardware shop.
Weight versus stiffness
The stiffness of a beam increases with the cube of its height. Double the height and the part becomes roughly eight times stiffer in that direction. So we put material where bending is greatest and lighten it where it is not needed, using ribs, hollow sections and rounded transitions. Sharp internal corners cause stress concentrations, so we use radii of at least 1–2 mm where the force flows.
In 3D printing, strength comes mainly from the walls, not the infill. A part with four to six perimeters and moderate infill is often both stronger and lighter than a solid one. The layer direction decides where the part is weakest, so we orient it so the load runs along the layers. We describe how orientation and walls affect strength under design for 3D printing.
To find the weakest points we can run a simplified stress check in CAD. It is an estimate, not a certified calculation, but it shows where material does useful work and where it only adds weight. Lightening has its limits, though. A part that is too thin can pass the test but fail from fatigue after a few thousand kilometres of vibration on a bike or snowmobile. There we design with a margin and avoid thin struts that can start to resonate.
Custom mounts for bikes, poles and skis
Much of the equipment has standard dimensions that make the design easier. Modern handlebars are often 31.8 or 35 mm in diameter at the stem and 22.2 mm at the grips. Cameras and lights often have a 1/4-inch UNC thread for a tripod mount. We still always measure your equipment, because tape, rubber and paint change the diameter. Skis, poles and rods also often have tapered or oval cross-sections. There we measure in several places or work from an impression in clay or putty, so the clamp bears on the whole surface and not just at two points.
Clamp mounts are designed with a rubber insert or TPU liner, so they grip without damaging paint or carbon fibre. Thumbscrews and snap fits allow tool-free fitting with gloves on. We do not design safety-critical parts such as ski bindings, climbing equipment and helmets. They need testing and certification that lie outside a CAD project.
Test in real life and make small batches
The first unit is tested where it will be used: on the ski track, on the bike or by the lake. If something does not fit, the parameters are changed and a new version is printed. Usually one or two rounds are enough before the part sits as it should. Each version gets a number in the model. You then know which part is fitted where, and the next batch will match the last. If the equipment is replaced, a few parameters are adjusted instead of redrawing everything.
Once the design is finished, it can be made for a whole club, a team or a rental business. We make similar solutions for snowmobiles, ATVs and boats, see parts for vehicles and boats. If you have an idea for a new product for the outdoor market, the work continues under product development and prototyping.
Materials for outdoor use – guide values
| Material | Properties outdoors |
|---|---|
| PLA | Stiff but brittle, softens around 55–60 °C – indoors and prototypes |
| PETG | Tougher in the cold, resists moisture, moderate UV resistance – a good standard choice |
| ASA | Very good UV resistance, withstands heat up to around 90 °C |
| PA (nylon) | Very tough and wear-resistant, absorbs moisture that affects dimensions |
| Carbon-fibre PA | Stiff and light, dimensionally stable – for loaded mounts |
| TPU | Flexible even below zero – grips, damping and protection |
| PC | High impact strength and heat resistance, demanding to print |
| Screws and nuts | Stainless A2 in normal conditions, A4 near salt water |
| Internal radii | At least 1–2 mm where the force flows, to avoid cracks |
Guide values – properties vary between manufacturers and depend on printing and design.
What we need from you
- Dimensions of the equipment the mount will sit on – diameter, width, hole pattern
- Photos of where the part will be fitted
- What is to be mounted and how much it weighs
- Lowest temperature and whether the part is exposed to sun or salt water
- Whether the part must be fitted without tools
- Quantity – one, a few or a batch for a club
Typical projects
- Handlebar light mount with quick release
- Camera mount for a ski pole or helmet holder
- GPS or phone holder for a bike or snowmobile
- Rod holder for a boat or ice fishing
- Adapter between two tent pole sizes
- Guards for ski tips and edges in transport
- TPU grip parts for training equipment
- Holder for a head torch and kit in the tent
- Cover and mount for a trail camera
- Club batch of race number holders
What affects price and lead time
- How complex the fixing is and the number of moving parts
- Requirements for low weight and high stiffness
- Number of test versions
- Whether several variants for different diameters are needed
- Whether a drawing for metal parts is included
- Number of units to be made
What you get
- STEP and STL or 3MF
- Material recommendation for cold, UV and moisture
- List of standard screws and inserts
- Test print for fit (optional)
- Parameters for different diameters and sizes
Frequently asked questions
Can 3D-printed parts handle sub-zero temperatures?
Yes, with the right material. PETG, ASA, PA and TPU work well in the cold, while PLA becomes brittle and handles impacts poorly. Shape matters too: radii and uniform walls reduce the risk of cracks.
Which material is best for parts that sit out in the sun?
ASA has the best UV resistance among common FDM materials and handles heat well. PETG also works but ages faster in direct sun. PLA should be avoided outdoors.
Can you make a mount that fits my bike exactly?
Yes. Send the diameter where the mount will sit and photos of the spot. We design with a liner that takes up small differences and protects the surface.
Do you make parts for ski bindings or climbing equipment?
No. Safety-critical equipment needs testing and certification. We design accessories, holders and guards that do not carry people.
Can you make a batch for our club?
Yes. Once the design has been tested, it can be made in the quantity you need, ideally in the club colours and with a name or logo in the shape.