Many people may not have too much understanding of these two, but in our industrial industry, the scope of application is still very wide. 3D printing and CNC machining are the more common production processes in the field of precision mechanical processing. They have similarities and differences. So let’s take a look at the advantages of CNC processing compared with 3D printing?
1、 Advantages of surface treatment
CNC machines provide better surface finish than 3D printing because the material does not deform during processing. Rigid materials and cutting actions keep the product together and there is less chance of error or deformation. The surface finish of 3D printing is poor. The material is bent, twisted or twisted because the material is laminated heated plastic.
2、 Prototype integrity improved
The numerical control machine tool does not heat the material and carries on the transformation. Materials remain stronger and have better structural integrity than 3D printers, and 3D printers must heat materials to build the desired product. 3D printers may also need to add foreign materials to the mixture to make prototypes, while CNC machines do not.
3、 Prototyping becomes easier
CNC machines are more suitable for prototypes that can withstand structural testing because they carve designs out of materials. They can also build prototypes using the exact materials that will be used to make the final product. Structural tests and changes will be more accurate because they use the same materials. This can speed up the production process, because the change will be design rather than material. 3D printers do not make prototypes with structural strength, so they cannot be physically tested.
4、 Price and volume do not represent price
The cost of 3D printing depends on the volume of material required. The final product quantity does not determine the price of CNC machine tools. For large orders, 3D printing is not cost-effective, which is the booming situation of CNC machine tools.
5、 The level of tolerance is rising
CNC machines are more accurate, so parts have better tolerances than 3D printers. Due to the tolerance level, prototypes with shafts or connections to other parts will have higher quality and are more likely to fit other parts.
6、 Quality benefits CNC
The larger layers of 3D printers are faster, but not as high-quality as smaller layers. If you need a prototype, you can choose to get it quickly but with a slightly lower quality, or wait longer to get the best quality prototype that the printer can provide. CNC machine tools allow you to choose the resolution of the items. They can provide different qualities in a short period of time, making them ideal for rapid build and instant test results.
7、 Cost reduction
If you can choose which manufacturing method to use for your product, CNC processing is usually cheaper than 3D printing.
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