Why We 3D Print Parts for the Go-NOGo Gas Tester
What It Means to 3D Print Parts In-House
At Go-NOGo, we 3D print parts for nearly every enclosure, sensor housing, and mounting component in the Go-NOGo Gas Tester range. It’s a deliberate manufacturing choice — not just a prototyping shortcut — and it shapes how we design, produce, and support the product.
3D printing — formally known as additive manufacturing — builds objects by depositing successive layers of material until the final shape is complete. Unlike subtractive manufacturing, where a block of raw material is progressively machined away to reach the desired form, additive manufacturing uses only what’s needed. The result is virtually zero material waste, faster iteration, and the freedom to produce complex geometries that would be difficult or impossible to machine conventionally.
The technology has matured rapidly over the past decade. What began as a prototyping tool used mostly for concept models has become a legitimate production method for functional, end-use parts — including in regulated industries like aerospace and medical devices. For a fuller technical picture of the process, see Wikipedia’s overview of additive manufacturing.
When we 3D print parts ourselves rather than outsourcing to injection moulding or CNC machining, we keep full control over tolerances, wall thickness, and fit — details that matter a great deal in a device that has to seal reliably and survive regular use around dive gear.
Why We 3D Print Parts for Go-NOGo
For Go-NOGo, this matters in several practical ways. We can rapidly prototype and refine enclosure designs, sensor housings, and mounting components without the lead times or tooling costs associated with injection moulding or CNC machining. It also gives us access to a wide range of engineering-grade materials — from rigid structural polymers to flexible, impact-resistant compounds — letting us match the material properties precisely to what each part demands.
We currently print parts in engineering-grade PETG and nylon-based composites, chosen for their impact resistance and chemical compatibility with the marine and dive environments the Go-NOGo operates in. Rigid, dimensionally stable polymers go into structural housings, while more flexible compounds are reserved for seals, gaskets, and impact-prone edges.
This flexibility means a design flaw spotted after field testing can be corrected and reprinted within days, not the weeks or months a mould revision would take. It’s a big part of how a small operation like ours can iterate on a precision instrument as quickly as we do.
Reduce Costs, Environmental Impact, and Manufacturing Flexibility
Because we 3D print parts on demand rather than committing to large injection-moulded production runs, we avoid the upfront tooling costs, minimum order quantities, and unsold inventory that come with traditional manufacturing. Material is only deposited where it’s structurally needed, which keeps waste close to zero compared with subtractive processes. That same on-demand approach also gives us the flexibility to update a design the moment we identify an improvement, rather than being locked into a mould for years.
As a small manufacturer producing several hundred units a month, this on-demand model lets us stay lean without sacrificing part quality or consistency — something that would be far harder to achieve if every design change meant re-cutting an aluminium mould.
Open-Source 3D Printed Parts Files
We take an open approach to this: all our 3D printing files are freely available on our website. You’re welcome to print them as-is, scale them to suit your setup, or modify them to fit your own needs. We believe that when customers can repair, adapt, and personalise their equipment, it leads to better outcomes for everyone — and it aligns with our commitment to building products that last.
No Printer? We’ve Got You Covered
No printer? No problem. We stock printed parts and can supply them directly — just get in touch or head to the accessories section of our shop.