3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing
A manufacturing process that builds parts layer by layer from digital files, using materials like plastic, resin, metal, or nylon. Ideal for prototyping and very low-volume production with no tooling required.
3D printing (also called additive manufacturing) creates physical objects by depositing material layer by layer based on a digital 3D model. The main consumer and industrial technologies include FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling, which extrudes plastic filament), SLA (Stereolithography, which cures liquid resin with a laser), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering, which fuses nylon powder), and DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering, which fuses metal powder). Each technology has different strengths in terms of material options, surface finish, precision, and cost.
3D printing has revolutionized product development by making it fast and affordable to produce physical prototypes. A part that might take 6 weeks and $5,000 to produce via CNC machining can often be 3D printed in 1-3 days for $50-$500. This enables rapid design iteration -- you can test, modify, and reprint multiple versions in a week. For DTC founders, this means you can validate form, fit, and function before committing to expensive tooling.
While 3D printing is exceptional for prototyping, it has significant limitations for mass production. Per-unit costs do not decrease meaningfully with volume (unlike injection molding). Surface finish is generally inferior to molded or machined parts. Material properties are often weaker than traditionally manufactured equivalents. Print speed limits throughput. That said, some businesses successfully use 3D printing for production of low-volume, high-value items like custom medical devices, jewelry, and aerospace components.
Why it matters
Always 3D print a prototype before committing to tooling. Services like Xometry, Protolabs, and Shapeways offer fast turnaround. Test the physical prototype with real users before investing in production molds.
Practical Tip
Always 3D print a prototype before committing to tooling. Services like Xometry, Protolabs, and Shapeways offer fast turnaround. Test the physical prototype with real users before investing in production molds.
You'll hear this when…
When briefing a factory
“"We need the 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing process clearly documented in your quality control plan."”
When reviewing samples
“"Can you confirm which 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing standard was applied during production of these samples?"”
When placing an order
“"The purchase order includes a clause requiring 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing compliance for all production runs."”
Related Terms
CNC Machining
A subtractive manufacturing process where computer-controlled cutting tools remove material from a solid block (billet) to create a finished part. CNC offers exceptional precision and works with metals, plastics, and wood.
Injection Molding
A manufacturing process where molten plastic is injected under high pressure into a steel or aluminum mold cavity, then cooled to form a solid part. It is the most common process for producing plastic components at scale.
Tooling
The molds, dies, jigs, and fixtures required to manufacture a specific product. Tooling is typically a one-time upfront cost that enables mass production of your custom design.
Request for Quotation
RFQA formal document sent to manufacturers requesting pricing, lead times, and terms for producing a specific product. A well-prepared RFQ dramatically improves the quality and speed of supplier responses.
This term appears in every Bottlecap report.
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