CNC or 3D Printing: Which Fits Your Prototype? 2025-11-28
This article provides a concise guide to choosing between CNC machining and 3D printing for rapid prototyping. It highlights CNC's strengths in precision, material strength, and production-like finishes for functional parts, with lead times as fast as 1 day. Conversely, it emphasizes 3D printing's advantages in handling complex geometries, offering rapid and cost-effective iterations for early-stage validation, typically within 4-6 days. The article details material comparisons, cost/lead time differences, and variations in surface finish and tolerances, concluding with a decision matrix to help users select the optimal method based on their project's specific needs.
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