Struggling to find the right partner for your next 3D printing project? With so many additive manufacturing factories out there, picking the best one can feel overwhelming—and the wrong choice can cost you time, money, and peace of mind. Choosing a top-tier manufacturer ensures your designs come to life with precision, speed, and reliability. Imagine seamless delivery, cutting-edge technology, and expert support every step of the way. Ready to discover the best in the business?

Read on to find your perfect manufacturing match!

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Additive Manufacturing vs. 3D Printing: Is there a Difference?

Product Details:
The company provides automated post-processing solutions for additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing), including the removal of support structures and surface finishing for 3D printed parts.

Technical Parameters:
– Automated systems for support removal and surface finishing
– Compatible with various additive manufacturing (3D printing) technologies
– Software-controlled workflows to ensure consistency

Application Scenarios:
– Industrial-scale post-processing of 3D printed components
– Support removal from complex geometries
– Surface smoothing for end-use 3D printed parts

Pros:
– Automation reduces manual labor and time
– Consistent and repeatable results with software integration
– Compatible with a wide range of 3D printing technologies

Cons:
– Automation solutions may not be suitable for low-volume or very simple
– Initial investment may be higher compared to manual methods

3D Printing vs Additive Manufacturing: What’s the Difference?

Product Details:
Monroe offers additive manufacturing services, specifically 3D printing for rapid part creation using various materials (primarily polymers, with options for metals, alloys, and ceramics) by building objects layer by layer from CAD designs.

Technical Parameters:
– Uses 3D printers with CAD software control
– Primary materials: polymers, some metals, alloys, ceramics
– Layer-by-layer object creation process
– Supports additional additive manufacturing processes like electron-beam

Application Scenarios:
– Industrial and commercial part manufacturing
– Prototyping and custom component production
– Consumer and recreational 3D printing applications

Pros:
– Ability to create complex shapes not possible with conventional manufacturing
– Reduces material waste since parts are built by addition rather than subtraction
– Fast turnaround for prototype and low-volume production
– Versatile material options (polymers, metals, alloys, ceramics)

Cons:
– Most 3D printers are limited to polymers; fewer support metals, alloys, or
– Additive manufacturing processing may not be suitable for all production scales

Differences Between Additive Manufacturing and 3d Printing

Product Details:
Mizar Additive provides additive manufacturing and 3D printing services utilizing various technologies for production of three-dimensional prototypes and final parts in both polymers and metals. Technologies include Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Electron Beam Melting (EBM), and Material Jetting (Polyjet).

Technical Parameters:
– Supports both polymer and metal materials (with some machines supporting
– Employs multiple additive processes, including FDM, SLS, DMLS, EBM, Polyjet
– FDM mainly used for polymers with limited size and resolution
– CAD software-driven layer-by-layer material deposition

Application Scenarios:
– Rapid prototyping of parts and models
– Production of end-use parts in aerospace and industrial sectors
– Affordable manufacturing for individuals, small designers, developers, and

Pros:
– Enables the creation of complex 3D objects with design flexibility
– Lower manufacturing costs for certain 3D printing techniques (especially FDM)
– Suitable for both prototyping and final part production

Cons:
– Some 3D printing (especially FDM) has limited size and resolution
– Many 3D printers primarily use polymers, restricting material options for basic

Additive Manufacturing VS 3D Printing – Eufymake US

Product Details:
AnkerMake M5 and M5C 3D Printers are high-speed, precision 3D printers designed for both professionals and hobbyists, offering advanced features such as PowerBoost 2.0 high-speed printing, direct drive extruders, and AI-powered monitoring.

Technical Parameters:
– Speed: Up to 500 mm/s (both M5 and M5C)
– Print Volume (M5): 235 × 235 × 250 mm³
– Precision: 0.1 mm (M5)
– M5C Extrusion Flow Rate: 35 mm³/s, All-metal hotend max temp: 300℃

Application Scenarios:
– Prototyping for personal or commercial use
– Production of intricate parts for hobbyists and professionals
– Projects requiring customization and fast turnaround
– Education and creative/artistic projects

Pros:
– Very high printing speeds with maintained precision
– AI camera for real-time monitoring (M5)
– Easy assembly and 7×7 auto-leveling (M5)
– Broad filament compatibility with all-metal hotend (M5C)

Cons:
– May not match the ultra-high precision or complexity required in some advanced
– Materials typically limited to plastics and compatible filaments
– Some post-processing like cleaning or sanding may be required

What is 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing? – 3DSourced

Product Details:
3D Sourced provides comprehensive guides and resources about 3D printing (additive manufacturing) technologies, with a focus on FDM and resin 3D printers for hobbyists and professionals, as well as related software and materials.

Technical Parameters:
– FDM printers use plastic filaments melted and deposited layer-by-layer.
– Resin printers use liquid resins cured by light; capable of finer detail.
– Typical minimum layer heights: 0.1mm or 0.05mm; some as low as 0.01mm.
– 3D printing files accepted: STL, OBJ, GCODE.

Application Scenarios:
– Rapid prototyping of new product designs
– Creating custom parts and models
– Applications in medicine, automotive, and jewelry industries
– Personalized manufacturing for hobbyists and makers

Pros:
– Low cost and accessibility compared to traditional manufacturing
– Minimizes material waste (additive process only uses required material)
– Highly versatile—can create complex shapes from plastics to metals
– Easy to use, even for beginners with modern 3D printer software

Cons:
– High-resolution and professional machines can be expensive and complex
– Printing large or intricate objects can be time-consuming
– May require technical understanding of slicing, designing, and printer setup

3D Printing or Additive Manufacturing: What’s the Difference? – Protolabs

Product Details:
Protolabs offers 3D printing (additive manufacturing) services for prototyping and production parts, utilizing various advanced 3D printing technologies. They emphasize rapid turnaround, industrial-grade materials, and on-demand manufacturing suitable for different stages of product development.

Technical Parameters:
– Utilizes industrial-grade 3D printing processes including SLS (Selective Laser
– Supports a wide range of engineering plastics and metals.
– Rapid lead times, often as fast as 1 day.
– Enables creation of complex geometries and internal features not possible with

Application Scenarios:
– Functional prototyping for product development.
– Low-volume or on-demand production of end-use parts.
– Manufacturing jigs, fixtures, and tooling.
– Medical devices, aerospace components, and automotive parts.

Pros:
– Enables fast turnaround for prototypes and production parts.
– Supports production of complex geometries and intricate designs.
– Wide material selection, including engineering-grade plastics and metals.
– Reduces waste compared to subtractive manufacturing methods.

Cons:
– Unit costs can be higher than traditional manufacturing at large volumes.
– Surface finish and tolerances may not always match those from CNC machining or
– Part size is limited by the build volume of 3D printing machines.

Additive Manufacturing vs 3D Printing – CDG

Product Details:
CDG offers professional 3D technology and additive products and services, including 3D printers, 3D scanners, 3D software, post-processing equipment, and on-demand services such as 3D printing, scanning, and engineering. They have opened an Additive Manufacturing Centre in Basingstoke which serves as a showroom and innovation hub.

Technical Parameters:
– Supports multiple 3D printing technologies: FDM/FFF (thermoplastic extrusion),
– Capable of processing various materials: metal powders, thermoplastics, resins
– Additive Manufacturing services include full workflow: CAD modeling, material

Application Scenarios:
– Small-scale, one-off prototyping and modeling (3D Printing)
– Large-scale, industrial manufacturing processes (Additive Manufacturing)
– Customization in fields like visual marketing and signage (e.g., sign making
– Applications requiring complex post-processing and quality control

Pros:
– Flexible technology portfolio covering both prototyping and industrial
– Comprehensive additive manufacturing workflow including design, production, and
– Ability to handle a range of materials and advanced 3D printing techniques
– On-demand services for printing, scanning, and engineering support

Cons:
– 3D Printing alone is limited to small-scale operations and not suitable for
– Full Additive Manufacturing processes may require complex workflow and

The Difference Between 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing

Product Details:
NexSys provides solutions related to 3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM), enabling the creation of objects by joining layers of material from CAD files. Their offerings include entry-level 3D printing (FDM/FFF) as well as advanced industrial-scale additive manufacturing (such as SLS), serving manufacturing, engineering, and rapid prototyping applications.

Technical Parameters:
– Entry-level 3D printing typically uses fused deposition modelling (FDM) or
– Advanced additive manufacturing employs Selective Laser Sintering (SLS),
– 3D printers utilize computer-controlled nozzles or lasers to deposit or sinter
– Industrial SLS offers a more professional finish with harder-to-see build

Application Scenarios:
– Rapid prototyping for early-stage concept models and mimicking traditional
– Production of replacement parts, especially discontinued or hard-to-find
– Deployments in industries such as aerospace, automotive, chemicals, electronics
– Later-stage prototyping or final product applications requiring high precision

Pros:
– Enables rapid prototyping and quicker product development cycles.
– Can produce complex parts with high precision and quality, especially with SLS.
– Supports a wide variety of materials in industrial AM processes.
– Allows manufacturing of custom or discontinued parts as long as a digital model

Cons:
– Industrial additive manufacturing (e.g., SLS) is significantly more expensive
– Entry-level FDM/FFF printers are less precise and typically suited to

3D Printing vs Additive Manufacturing: What’s Best in 2025?

Product Details:
Monarch Innovation offers a comprehensive range of engineering, design, and manufacturing services, including 3D printing/additive manufacturing, mechanical and industrial design, engineering automation, IT and embedded/IOT services, building design (BIM) solutions, creative and branding services, low volume manufacturing, and prototyping.

Technical Parameters:
– Mechanical engineering services include modeling and drafting, machine design &
– Engineering automation covers design automation, CAD customization, and robotic
– IT services span web development, mobile app development, cloud apps,
– Embedded/IOT solutions comprise hardware design and development, hardware

Application Scenarios:
– Product prototyping and low volume manufacturing using 3D printing/additive
– Industrial machine design and simulation for engineering optimization.
– Construction and building planning via Building Information Modeling (BIM),
– Development of custom IoT and embedded hardware for smart home, garden, or

Pros:
– Wide portfolio covering both digital and physical product development (from CAD
– Strength in integrating multidisciplinary expertise (mechanical, IT, embedded,
– Ability to support both innovation (prototyping, simulation) and process

Cons:
– No clear, specific technical specifications or proprietary technology details
– The breadth of services might lead to less depth in specialized or niche

3D Printing vs. Additive Manufacturing: Easily Explained

Product Details:
The company offers both 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing (AM) services, encompassing a wide variety of processes such as Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and Electron Beam Melting (EBM). Their offerings include the creation of objects by adding material layer by layer, supporting different materials and complexities for individual, small business, and industrial applications.

Technical Parameters:
– Layer-by-layer object creation using multiple processes: extrusion (FDM),
– Supports various materials: plastics, polymers, metals, ceramics, and
– FDM (3D Printing) typically uses melted plastic filament for layers; SLA uses
– Computer-Aided Design (CAD) files required for production of physical

Application Scenarios:
– Prototyping and small-batch production for hobbyists, artists, and small
– Industrial manufacturing of high-performance parts and components requiring
– Production of complex shapes, hollow objects, and detailed designs not
– Healthcare applications and the creation of intricate or customized products.

Pros:
– Highly flexible—able to produce complex geometries and customized designs.
– Wide variety of technology options and materials available under Additive
– 3D Printing offers affordability and accessibility for individual and
– Layer-by-layer processes allow for smoother, more detailed, and innovative

Cons:
– 3D Printing is often limited to plastics or polymers, with fewer material
– Layer-by-layer deposition can result in visible lines or textured surfaces on
– Some AM processes require specialized and expensive equipment, more suited to
– Production speed or scalability may be limited for very large-scale

Comparison Table

Company	Product Details	Pros	Cons	Website
Additive Manufacturing vs. 3D Printing: Is there a Difference?	The company provides automated post-processing solutions for additive	Automation reduces manual labor and time Consistent and repeatable results with	Automation solutions may not be suitable for low-volume or very simple	www.postprocess.com
3D Printing vs Additive Manufacturing: What’s the Difference?	Monroe offers additive manufacturing services, specifically 3D printing for	Ability to create complex shapes not possible with conventional manufacturing Re	Most 3D printers are limited to polymers; fewer support metals, alloys, or	monroeengineering.com
Differences Between Additive Manufacturing and 3d Printing	Mizar Additive provides additive manufacturing and 3D printing services	Enables the creation of complex 3D objects with design flexibility Lower	Some 3D printing (especially FDM) has limited size and resolution Many 3D	mizaradditive.com
Additive Manufacturing VS 3D Printing – Eufymake US	AnkerMake M5 and M5C 3D Printers are high-speed, precision 3D printers designed	Very high printing speeds with maintained precision AI camera for real-time	May not match the ultra-high precision or complexity required in some advanced	www.eufymake.com
What is 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing? – 3DSourced	3D Sourced provides comprehensive guides and resources about 3D printing	Low cost and accessibility compared to traditional manufacturing Minimizes	High-resolution and professional machines can be expensive and complex Printing	www.3dsourced.com
3D Printing or Additive Manufacturing: What’s the Difference? – Protolabs	Protolabs offers 3D printing (additive manufacturing) services for prototyping	Enables fast turnaround for prototypes and production parts. Supports	Unit costs can be higher than traditional manufacturing at large volumes	www.protolabs.com
Additive Manufacturing vs 3D Printing – CDG	CDG offers professional 3D technology and additive products and services,	Flexible technology portfolio covering both prototyping and industrial	3D Printing alone is limited to small-scale operations and not suitable for	cdg.uk.com
The Difference Between 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing	NexSys provides solutions related to 3D printing and additive manufacturing	Enables rapid prototyping and quicker product development cycles. Can produce	Industrial additive manufacturing (e.g., SLS) is significantly more expensive	www.nexsys.co.uk
3D Printing vs Additive Manufacturing: What’s Best in 2025?	Monarch Innovation offers a comprehensive range of engineering, design, and	Wide portfolio covering both digital and physical product development (from CAD	No clear, specific technical specifications or proprietary technology details	www.monarch-innovation.com
3D Printing vs. Additive Manufacturing: Easily Explained	The company offers both 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing (AM) services,	Highly flexible—able to produce complex geometries and customized designs. Wide	3D Printing is often limited to plastics or polymers, with fewer material	orbyline.com

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the difference between additive manufacturing and 3D printing?

Additive manufacturing is a broad term for building components layer by layer from digital designs. 3D printing is a type of additive manufacturing often used for prototyping and small batches. While all 3D printing is additive manufacturing, not all additive manufacturing processes are called 3D printing. Both terms are often used interchangeably by manufacturers.

How do I determine which manufacturer is best for my project?

Start by considering the type of material and production volume you need. Evaluate potential suppliers’ experience with similar projects, their available technologies, lead times, pricing, and quality control processes. Reading customer reviews and requesting sample parts can also help ensure you choose a reliable partner.

What factors should I consider when comparing quotes from different factories?

Look at more than just the price. Compare technology capabilities, material selection, tolerances, post-processing options, turnaround times, and shipping costs. Make sure quotes are for similar specifications. Also, consider customer service responsiveness and technical support.

How can I assess the quality standards of a manufacturer?

Check if the manufacturer holds certifications such as ISO 9001, which indicate a commitment to quality management. Ask about their inspection processes, quality control measures, and request references or case studies showing their successful past projects.

Is it better to work with a local or overseas 3D printing factory?

Both options have pros and cons. Local factories offer easier communication, faster shipping, and easier quality control visits. Overseas manufacturers can provide cost savings but involve longer shipping times and potential language barriers. Consider your project’s timeline, budget, and need for hands-on engagement when deciding.