{"id":4287,"date":"2020-08-03T10:52:05","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T09:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mark3d.com\/en\/?p=4287"},"modified":"2020-08-18T10:08:09","modified_gmt":"2020-08-18T09:08:09","slug":"cnc-vs-3d-printing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mark3d.com\/en\/cnc-vs-3d-printing\/","title":{"rendered":"CNC vs. 3D Printing"},"content":{"rendered":"
CNC vs. 3D Printing:<\/p>\n
What’s the best way to make your part?<\/p><\/h1><\/div>
The development of stronger 3D printing materials has encouraged manufacturers across industries to explore CNC vs 3D printing, and find ways to 3D print functional parts that were previously CNC machined. The 3D printing process can save manufacturers considerable time and money, while still generating the quality necessary for industrial-level production. <\/p>\n
Manufacturers that make the switch can leverage 3D printing software to prototype and produce parts in a single day, for a fraction of the cost of traditional CNC machining. However, there are still several key areas where CNC may still be the right choice.<\/p>\n
From physical to financial, let\u2019s walk through some of key areas to evaluate before deciding between CNC vs 3D printing.<\/p>\n<\/div>
Geometry<\/strong><\/p>\n Feature Size:<\/strong><\/p>\n Both CNC and 3D printing processes are constrained by tool size; in the case of CNC, the tool diameter dictates the smallest negative feature that can be created. In the case of 3D printing, however, the nozzle diameter dictates the smallest positive feature that can be produced. The nozzle diameter for extrusion-based 3D printers is typically between 0.25mm and 0.8mm, and the minimum feature size for those machines is 4 times that, resulting in a minimum feature size between 1.0mm and 3.2mm.<\/p>\n