When a business needs to make a part, an enclosure or a prototype, the choice of manufacturing technology directly affects the budget, the timeline and the quality of the finished product. The three most common methods \u2014 3D printing (FDM)<\/strong>, CNC milling<\/strong> and mould casting<\/strong> \u2014 have fundamentally different strengths and limitations.<\/p>\n Material (a plastic filament) is fed through a heated head and laid down layer by layer, building the part from the bottom up. It\u2019s an additive technology: material is added rather than removed. FDM printing makes geometrically complex items possible without any extra tooling \u2014 all you need is a 3D model.<\/p>\n A computer-controlled cutter carves the part out of a solid block of material \u2014 metal, plastic or wood. The technology gives high accuracy and an excellent surface finish, but it needs skilled programming and is limited when it comes to internal cavities.<\/p>\n First a master model is made (often using 3D-printed prototypes<\/a>), then a silicone mould is taken from it and filled with polyurethane or another material. The method works well for producing batches of identical parts.<\/p>\n You need a prototype, a one-off item or a small run of up to 100 pieces<\/strong>. It\u2019s the best option for testing a design, checking ergonomics and making functional parts with complex geometry. 3D printing lets you iterate quickly \u2014 change the model and get an updated part the very next day. Read more in our article on 3D-printed prototypes for business<\/a>.<\/p>\n The part must be made of metal<\/strong>, take significant mechanical loads or meet tolerances tighter than \u00b10.1 mm<\/strong>. CNC is indispensable for precision mechanical assemblies and engine parts.<\/p>\n You need a run of 100+ identical plastic parts<\/strong>. At large volumes the unit cost is much lower. But for the first samples it\u2019s better to use 3D printing, and to start casting only after the design is finally approved.<\/p>\n In practice, the technologies often complement each other. A typical scenario: first 3D printing<\/strong> for rapid prototyping, then design refinement, and finally casting or CNC<\/strong> for production. The master model for a silicone mould is also often 3D printed.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure which technology suits you, send us a 3D model or describe the task. We\u2019ll advise and quote for free. For prototypes and small runs, FDM 3D printing<\/strong> is in most cases the fastest and most economical choice.<\/p>\nEach technology in brief<\/h2>\n
FDM 3D printing \u2014 additive manufacturing<\/h3>\n
CNC milling \u2014 subtractive manufacturing<\/h3>\n
Silicone mould casting \u2014 batch production<\/h3>\n
Comparison by key criteria<\/h2>\n
Cost for small runs (1\u2013100 pieces)<\/h3>\n
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Lead time<\/h3>\n
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Accuracy and surface quality<\/h3>\n
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Geometry limitations<\/h3>\n
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Materials<\/h3>\n
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Summary comparison<\/h2>\n
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Which technology to choose: recommendations<\/h2>\n
Choose 3D printing if:<\/h3>\n
Choose CNC milling if:<\/h3>\n
Choose casting if:<\/h3>\n
A combined approach \u2014 the most effective strategy<\/h2>\n
Ready to start production?<\/h2>\n