Additive Manufacturing vs Moulding: Which is Better?

How tempting it is that technology has made it possible to find one perfect solution that works for every situation depending on the given project and its particular demands. When talking about both, it gets difficult to pick one, and people often find themselves confused with the comparison since both offer unique strengths. They can even be used in conjunction for the development and manufacturing of the same project because the differences between them actually complement each other. If you have been wondering which one is better for your project, this guide will give you an understanding and help you decide.

Both Techniques For Product Development

Luckily for manufacturers, there is absolutely no need of picking sides as it is possible to benefit from the complementary nature of both of these technologies even within a single product cycle. Since moulding comes with costly tooling and cannot even be modified after the fact, its use is not recommended for repetitive prototyping and product development. As an excellent alternative, additive manufacturing is remarkably cost-effective and offers unparalleled speed for rapid prototyping. Also, the procedure is effortless and printing a new prototype with this printing technique is as easy as changing a digital model. Modern printers like the HP Multi Jet Fusion can produce parts with very similar mechanical strength, finish quality and tight tolerances to those produced by moulding with injection. 

Is One Really Better Than The Other?

The comparison between these two technologies should not be made as if one is superior to the other but rather as two equally efficient methods. When it comes to choosing which method is suitable for your project, the most crucial thing to consider is the volume of parts you want to produce. To explain in easy words, it can be cost-effective for small-scale to medium-scale runs, while the moulding method can provide value for larger projects. However, if your project requires additional considerations like complexity or customizability of the design, it can somehow tip the balance further in favour of additive manufacturing. One thing that you must keep in mind is that there may be room for both technologies in any particular supply chain. Understanding the pros of each technology, and playing them according to their favour can help manufacturers get the best of both and fully benefit from their competitive advantages.

When is Molding beneficial?

Being one of the oldest industrial technologies, it is used for high-volume plastic manufacturing since it produces excellent-quality parts with tight tolerances offering excellent cost-effectivity for larger quantities of units. No wonder it has been at the top for so long. Not to be considered a drawback, but it requires moulds which come at significant costs and also require long periods to be produced. After the moulds have been produced, manufacturing individual parts doesn’t cost much to manufacture. With that being said, it can provide value above certain volumes of parts but can be prohibitively expensive for smaller runs.

When is Additive Manufacturing Beneficial?

Unlike the moulding method, this technique is a much younger technology and was introduced way after moulding. It was primarily used for manufacturing prototypes and developing products. With the modernising of technologies, it has grown to become an efficient solution for many large-scale manufacturing projects too.

Compared to moulding, it works without any additional tooling or extra setup costs. Due to this, it is considerably faster and far less costly than the moulding technique, which makes it an ideal choice for small to medium volumes of parts. In addition to this, additive manufacturing enables you to produce complicated geometries, organic shapes and internal features with such efficiency that could never be achieved with moulding.

To Wrap Up:

Considering all that is mentioned above, you will be able to make a well-informed choice. The comparison between these two technologies should not be interpreted as one being better than the other. Remember that it all depends on your requirements and the manufacturing scale of your project. To avail CNC machining services you can contact us anytime.