Rapid prototyping: injection vs. 3D printing?

You may have read, here or there, that 3D printing would replace plastic injection in the longer or shorter term. Notre avis n’est pas tout à fait aussi tranché !

Originally considered as competing technologies, These techniques are now widely recognized as each having unique advantages and can even be used together to help maximize production efficiency.

This is why we thought it was important to make this comparison between plastic injection and 3D printing ?

WHEN TO USE 3D PRINTING OR PLASTIC INJECTION MOULDING?

The use of 3D printing in innovative and experimental scenarios is frequently shown in the media, but the reality is that the majority of today's plastic parts are made by injection molding. This choice is understandable given the way the process allows for quality control, cost control and manufacturing of complex assemblies, by injection moulding or bi-material injection with tight tolerances.

3D printing and the plastic injection molding are both useful and competitive processes, as are cnc machining by shooting or milling.

3D printing has given engineers the ability to create plastic models from their desks and bring them to life in a matter of hours. Injection molding, on the other hand, is synonymous with quality and value. It is commonly used to quickly and reliably produce large volumes of complex plastic designs.

For project leaders, startups or manufacturers who are wondering if plastic injection molding or 3D printing is the right process for their next project, we'll explain when to use each technique and how they can be used collectively to support each other.

plastic injection vs. 3D printing

3D printing

• Fast turnaround times (1 to 2 weeks)
• Small series production (100 pieces or less)
• Designs with frequent changes
• Parts or components made of plastic relatively small

Plastic injection moulding

• Longer turnaround times (5 to 7 weeks for single parts)
• Mass production (more than 500 pieces per series)
• Final design of the part (Minor modifications) Parts of any size or complexity.

What about the performance of the prototypes?

Obviously, the 3D printer or resin manufacturers will tell you that 3D printed parts are strong, and capable of this or that, and this is generally TRUE!

Il en est de même pour les pièces plastiques moulées par injection plastique.

The most important point is to know where you come from, in order to understand where you are going! (it's philosophical, isn't it?)

Small series

• Your product will be made in 3D printing No problem, your prototype will be the first of a series of XX pieces. You can make representative tests of assembly, use
• Will your product be manufactured by injection or thermoforming? The prototype will have different material, performance and endurance characteristics than your production part. It may be that the prototype part is less efficient than the production part (in this case, you are more or less covered), but the opposite is also possible...and in this case, the production part will take a little longer to develop, and the costs of modifying the moulds will have to be taken into account!

Medium - Large series

• Will your product be manufactured by injection or thermoforming?
  Ne tirez pas de conclusion hâtive du prototype réalisé en SLS, SLA ou FDM. Même si le matériau a le même nom, ses performances ne sont JAMAIS identiques ! La pièce imprimée en 3D peut vous servir à montrer à illustrer un concept, faire réagir des utilisateurs….à valider une fonction simple d’assemblage, mais pas tout en même temps ! Seul un prototype “Bonne matière” vous permettra de passer avec succès toutes les étapes de validation de votre projet.