CNC Machining Prototype VS 3D Printing Prototype

Jul 15, 2022

CNC machining and 3D printing are two leading manufacturing technologies for rapid prototyping and small volume production, but use completely different production techniques to achieve their goals. CNC machining uses subtraction to eliminate unwanted parts from a piece of material, while 3D printing uses addition to create a product layer by layer from material on top of a blank piece.

With the continuous demand for rapid prototyping and industrial production, people are becoming more interested in 3D printers and CNC machines.

They have gained more recognition in the 21st Century and have paved the way for a more advanced and productive industry in the future with the possibility of creating durable parts and complex prototypes with less human labor as compared to before.Due to their contrasting nature, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. and it can be difficult to understand which one should be implemented in your project and when. We have prepared this guide to provide a comparative analysis of CNC and 3D printing, so you can see all the ins and outs of each method and to help you with your decision-making process.

	CNC machining	3D printing
Nature of manufacturing	Subtractive manufacturing	Additive manufacturing
Precision	Able to produce highly precise parts (0.01mm to 0.5mm) but with geometrical restrictions.	Specializes in producing geometrically precise parts.
Various materials	Specializes in denser materials like metals and woods.	Commonly preferred on plastic materials.
Production	Has a high operating cost because of its labor-intensive process. But is preferred for high volume production because it is more cost-effective.	Can give a low operating cost for low volume production.
Quality of the product	The finish is smooth right away so post-processing is easier.	The layered materials can be seen on the eyes so the finish is not that smooth. Post-processing is highly suggested to achieve a smooth surface finish.
Waste	There’s a lot of mess left from the cut-away material.	There isn’t much of a mess left.

Will 3D printing replace CNC machining?

3D printing and CNC machining are both manufacturing processes that have become increasingly popular in recent years. Both technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it is likely that each will continue to be used for different applications. CNC machining is generally better suited for mass production, as it is faster and more precise. 3D printing is more flexible, as it can be used to create more complex shapes, and does not require the same level of precision. In some cases, 3D printing can even be used to create prototypes or one-off components that would be too expensive to manufacture using traditional methods. As a result, it is unlikely that 3D printing will completely replace CNC machining. However, the two technologies are complementar}’ and are often used together in manufacturing.

Product categories