For most UK manufacturers, the useful question is not “which is better” but “which is the right tool for this job”. Both processes are mature, both have specialist UK and Irish suppliers, and both are often used on the same product at different stages of its life. 3D-printed prototypes are often validated into a production tool, or short-run 3D-printed service parts support a product that was originally moulded. In this guide, we’ll summarise the best use cases for each process, and explain how recent developments may have tipped the scale, depending on your project volumes and part geometry.

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