Stratasys embeds trinckle software, simplifying 3D printed fixture design

Stratasys has moved to compress one of the clumsiest parts of production 3D printing: fixture design. By embedding trinckle’s fixturemate into GrabCAD Print and GrabCAD Print Pro, the company is trying to turn a process that once demanded CAD skill, back-and-forth iteration, and separate design tools into something closer to a guided print job.

The practical change is straightforward. Instead of opening a full CAD package to build a jig, insert, or holding fixture from scratch, users inside GrabCAD can be led through the design with software built for that specific task. Stratasys first announced the partnership on April 7, 2025, saying the goal was to simplify custom fixture creation and reduce lead times and costs. The company also said the software was meant to widen access to non-CAD users in industrial manufacturing, transportation, service bureaus, contract manufacturing, and service and repair.

That is where the workflow compression matters most. A shop that needs a part-holding solution for assembly, welding, inspection, or machining can now move from “we need a fixture” to a printable design inside a familiar production environment. Stratasys said fixturemate could create secure, precise holding solutions in minutes, and its GrabCAD Print Pro trial page said the tool could cut fixture design time by 80%, from days to hours. The same page said fixturemate was included at no extra cost in release 104.

trinckle’s pitch fits that use case. The Berlin company says its software automates complex steps in industrial part design, streamlines workflows, and reduces lead times and costs. Freie Universität Berlin traces the trinckle 3D project back to September 2012, and trinckle now describes fixturemate as intuitive web-based software that lets anyone design fixtures fast, with CAD expertise optional. The company says the tool can produce custom fixtures in under 20 minutes.

There is real-world proof behind that promise. trinckle says brands including Audi Sport, ERIKS, and Ford use its design automation tools. In a 2024 Audi Sport case study, fixture design time fell from two hours to 20 minutes, while fixture cost dropped by 80%. Stratasys and trinckle have also pointed to a broader app strategy, with plans to reach 15 apps by Formnext 2026, including clamping jaws, shadow boards, and drill guides.

For hobbyists and prosumer users working around Stratasys-adjacent workflows, the news points in a clear direction: easier custom toolmaking is coming, but it is still being driven by enterprise needs. The real breakthrough is not flashy consumer geometry; it is the steady removal of the CAD bottleneck between a fixture idea and a printer running.