Elena Dennstedt
Founder & Lead Engineer, CLT 3D Printing
Elena Dennstedt is the founder and lead engineer of CLT 3D Printing, a family-owned 3D printing service in Charlotte, North Carolina. She runs the shop day to day, from design reviews and material selection to production and quality control, and she works directly with every client.
CLT 3D Printing began as a family hobby. Elena and her family bought a 3D printer and printed everything from toys and household fixes to creative projects with their three daughters. When a friend asked for help printing parts for their business, a simple website followed, and so did steady demand from Charlotte-area companies looking for a local, reliable printing partner.
Elena has grown the business organically, without outside funding, serving clients from marketing agencies ordering custom awards to drone companies that need precision parts. Her goal is a business the whole family can be proud of, one that helps put three daughters through college.
What Elena Does
Design & DFM review
Checks incoming files for printability, strength, and cost before anything is printed, and suggests changes that make parts better or cheaper.
Material selection
Matches each job to the right filament: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, Nylon, or TPU, based on strength, heat, UV exposure, flexibility, and budget.
Production
Runs prototypes and small-batch production on the shop's Bambu Lab FDM printers, from single parts to runs of hundreds.
Quality control
Verifies dimensions against a standard ±0.2 mm tolerance, inspects finish, and fit-checks parts before they are picked up or shipped.
How She Works
Elena's approach is honest advice first. If a different material, a design change, or a smaller order would serve a client better, she says so, because she is building long-term relationships, not one-time sales. Every part gets the same attention whether it is a single prototype or a production run, and every order is checked before it leaves the shop.
Clients across Charlotte and Lake Norman can pick up locally, and orders ship anywhere in the US. Quotes come back within one business day.
Recent Articles by Elena
Creep in 3D Printed Parts: Why Plastic Sags
Creep in 3D printed parts is slow deformation under constant load. Learn which materials resist it and how to design parts that keep their shape.
Reverse Engineering Broken Parts for 3D Printing
Reverse engineering parts for 3D printing turns a worn or obsolete component into a usable CAD model. Here is the workflow and the pitfalls to avoid.
Designing Snap Fits for FDM 3D Printing
Snap-fit design for FDM comes down to strain, orientation, and clearance. Here is how to build snap fits in PLA and PETG that do not crack.
Infill vs Walls: What Makes 3D Prints Strong
3D print strength depends more on walls, orientation, and material than on infill percentage. Here is how to spec parts that hold up without overpaying.
Chemical Resistance of 3D Printed Plastics
Chemical resistance of 3D printed parts depends on material, layer bonding, and exposure. Learn how PLA, PETG, ABS, and nylon compare before you commit.
The 3D Printing RFQ Checklist
Want a faster, more accurate 3D printing quote? Use this RFQ checklist to cover files, materials, tolerances, finishing, and delivery in one request.