3D printing and injection moulding are two of the most widely used manufacturing techniques, particularly in the production of plastic parts and prototypes. Both offer unique advantages, from cost and scalability to precision and speed, making the choice between them a critical decision for any manufacturing project.
In this article we compare 3D printing vs injection moulding, explaining how each process works, so that you can decide which method is best suited to your production goals.
3D Printing vs Injection Moulding: What’s the Difference?
Whether you’re developing a prototype or scaling to full production, choosing the right manufacturing process matters. 3D printing and injection moulding each bring unique strengths to the table, from design freedom to efficiency at scale. Let’s take a look at their differences.
What is 3D Printing?
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the process of creating a product from a digital 3D model and building it layer by layer. Materials such as polymers, resins, or metal powders are precisely deposited or fused together to form the final object.
Unlike injection moulding, 3D printing doesn’t require tooling — making it ideal for rapid prototyping, one-off production, and even complex designs that traditional methods can’t usually achieve.
At Truform, we specialise in on-demand 3D printing services that allow manufacturers to bridge the gap between prototyping and full-scale production without costly delays.
Use Cases of 3D Printing
- Rapid prototyping and functional testing
- Custom or one-off components
- Lightweight, complex, or lattice structures
- Bridge manufacturing before large-scale production
- Low-volume end-use parts
What is Injection Moulding?
Injection moulding is a manufacturing process that involves heating plastic or polymer granules until they melt, then injecting them into a custom mould under high pressure. Once cooled, the mould interior solidifies and is ejected, ready for finishing or assembly.
Injection moulding is renowned for producing high volumes of identical, quality parts with tight tolerances and smooth surface finishes. And when combined with 3D printed tooling, injection moulding can produce parts faster than traditional machining methods, reducing overall lead times.
Use Cases of Injection Moulding:
- High-volume production of identical parts
- Consumer products, automotive components, and medical devices
- Applications requiring isotropic strength and surface finish consistency
- Multi-cavity production for efficiency and cost reduction
Additive Manufacturing vs Injection Moulding: How to Choose the Right Process
Choosing between 3D printing and injection moulding depends on your project needs and priorities. For example, do you want speed, cost-efficiency, or production scale? Here’s how to decide on the right process.
When to Choose 3D Printing
- You’re in a hurry. Need parts this week? No problem. 3D printing is built for fast turnarounds, making it perfect for quick prototypes or small runs.
- Your design is tricky. Got complex shapes or internal channels? 3D printing handles complex designs and intricate prototypes with ease.
- You want something unique. From medical devices to custom products, 3D printing is ideal for personalised, one-off designs.
- You’ll be tweaking as you go. Print, test, adjust, repeat — perfect for R&D or proof-of-concept models.
- You’d rather skip the tooling. No expensive mould setup means a lower barrier to entry, especially for startups or small teams with limited budgets.
- You care about sustainability. Printers can run with minimal oversight and waste less material in the process.
When to Use Injection Moulding
- You need proven performance at scale. Injection moulding delivers strong, repeatable components that hold up under pressure.
- Precision matters. If you need tight tolerances and indentical results every time, injection moulding remains the go-to for high-volume production.
- You want production-ready finishes. Moulded parts deliver smooth, consistent finishes directly from the tool, ready for use with minimal post-processing.
- You’re planning to scale. Tooling can be costly up front, but once you're set up the cost per part drops significantly for steady production.
- You’re producing in bulk. For large quantities, injection moulding remains a highly cost-efficient and accurate option, delivering quality parts consistently at speed.
- You're focused on efficiency. Once optimised, injection moulding can run with minimal excess material per cycle, though setup and tooling still consume resources.
Injection Moulding vs Additive Manufacturing Cost: Which is More Affordable?
When it comes to comparing injection moulding vs additive manufacturing costs, both have their strengths. Making the right choice really depends on how many parts you want to produce and how fast you need them.
3D Printing
No tooling cost but can have a higher cost per part, which usually remains consistent, regardless of production volume.
Injection Moulding
High upfront mould cost. However, the per-part cost decreases with volume – ideal for large-scale production.
Pro Tip: Many manufacturers use a hybrid approach to achieve the results they want cost-efficiently. This often looks like using 3D print moulds or early prototypes to test and refine designs before investing in full-scale injection moulding.
FAQs
Still got questions? You’re not alone. Here we answer common questions about additive manufacturing vs injection moulding, including cost and process differences.
Is injection moulding additive manufacturing?
No. Injection moulding is a formative process that shapes molten material in a mould, whereas additive manufacturing builds parts layer by layer from digital models.
Can I use 3D printed injected moulds for production?
Yes. 3D printed injected moulds are a cost-effective way to produce low to medium volumes without investing in expensive tooling.
Injection moulding vs additive manufacturing cost: what’s the main difference?
3D printing has no tooling cost but higher per-part pricing, while injection moulding has higher initial setup costs but lower long-term unit costs for large-scale production runs.
Bring Your Prototypes to Life with Truform
For rapid prototyping and flexibility, additive manufacturing provides unmatched speed and creative freedom. At Truform, we offer advanced additive manufacturing services that bring your prototypes to life faster and more affordably.
Ready to start your next project? Get in touch to discuss your manufacturing needs today.