3D printing on plaques (Cyprus)

Why 3D printing on a resin plaque is the right call for full-volume sculpture and complex 3D shapes

A Nicosia non-profit wanted 30 branded 280×380 mm plaques for its annual volunteer-recognition event, each carrying a 3D-printed bas-relief sculpture of a volunteer in profile. UV printing needed a flat panel and couldn't reproduce the 3D shape; laser engraving was 2D and slow at low volume. SLA 3D printing in Siraya Tenacious clear resin with paint and metallic leaf produced the full-volume bas-relief at 50-micron layer height, finished the run in 9 business days. Cost: €32.40 per plaque on a 280×380 mm SLA-printed resin bas-relief plaque.

Models and materials that work with 3D printing on a plaque

3D printing works in SLA resin and FDM PETG. The standard plaque footprint is A5 (148×210 mm) up to A4 (210×297 mm), with thicknesses from 8 mm to 22 mm. SLA tough resin handles a 14 mm plaque at 50-micron layer height with one print cycle of around 11 hours. For larger 280×380 mm plaques we switch to FDM in PETG-CF (carbon-fibre filled) for stiffness, then sand and paint. Wall-mount is a keyhole slot cut into the back face by a 3 mm end mill on a small CNC, plus a French cleat for heavier 22 mm pieces. For boardrooms in Limassol we fit a brass D-ring hanger to match the rest of the room hardware.

3D printing specifics: SLA, FDM, and finish

Standard production: SLA on a Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K at 50-micron layer height (high-detail) or 100-micron layer height (draft), 8-12 hours per cycle for an A5 plaque. FDM on a Prusa i3 MK4 in PETG-CF at 200-micron layer height, 4-8 hours per part. Both technologies print directly from a 3D model. Post-processing: support removal, sanding, primer, paint, and metallic leaf or chrome finish. The finished 3D-printed plaque survives decades of wall display.

Bundling and packaging

Plaques ship individually in 280×380 mm kraft gift boxes with a 1.5 mm cardboard insert (€1.40 per box uplift). Bulk deliveries go in master cartons of 10 plaques each.

Runs, lead times, and budgets

MOQ is 30 units. Lead time is 7–10 business days: 1 day design prep, 1–3 days print cycles, 1–2 days post-processing and paint, 1 day QC and wall-mount hardware installation. EUR per unit at 30-quantity on a 280×380 mm SLA-printed resin bas-relief plaque with paint and metallic leaf: €32.40 (SLA clear resin) to €56.20 (SLA tough resin with chrome finish). Setup fee €95 per 3D model setup.

Cyprus context for 3D-printed plaques

3D-printed plaques in Cyprus are most often ordered by Nicosia non-profits for volunteer-recognition (30–80 units), Limassol banks for top-tier client recognition (20–60 units), and Nicosia public-sector agencies for staff awards (30–100 units). The peak season is October–December (gifting season) and June (academic year-end).

Frequently asked questions

What is the largest 3D printing size on a plaque?

The standard SLA build volume on Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K is 218×123×250 mm. The largest plaque is 280×380 mm; larger items are possible with FDM printing.

Can 3D printing reproduce a full-volume sculpture on a plaque?

Yes — 3D printing prints directly from an STL or OBJ file. Full-volume sculptures, bas-relief, and bespoke 3D logos are all possible.

Can 3D printing include metallic finishes?

Yes — paint and metallic leaf (gold, silver, chrome) are available at +€1.80 per unit.

How durable is a 3D-printed resin plaque?

SLA tough resin survives decades of wall display. FDM PETG-CF is also durable.

Can each plaque carry a unique sculpture?

Yes — variable-data 3D printing is included up to 30 unique sculptures (limited by the print run). Above 30 we charge €1.80 per unique sculpture.

Can the plaque include a wall-mount?

Yes — wall-mount hardware (keyhole slot, French cleat, or D-ring hanger) is included at no extra cost. We fit the mount to your wall type.

Request a quote

We come back with pricing in EUR, lead time and options for your project.