Traditional injection molding only becomes economically viable when producing large batches – a mold can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of euros, and making one can take weeks. When you only need a few dozen or a few hundred units, that investment often doesn’t pay off. 3D printing allows small batches to be produced without molds – parts are printed directly from a digital model.

When mold-free small-batch production pays off

• Quantities from a single unit to a few thousand. The smaller the batch, the greater the impact of the mold cost on the per-unit price – with 3D printing, the per-unit cost changes far less.
• The product is still being refined. If the design might change after the first batch, a mold becomes an expensive and risky investment – a 3D model can be modified and reprinted within hours.
• Seasonal or limited demand. When a product is made for a single season, event, or limited-run collection, the mold investment usually doesn’t pay for itself.
• You need it here and now. Making a mold takes several months – it can easily be 6 months or more from order to first batch. With 3D printing, you can have the first parts in hand within days.
• Complex geometry is required. Internal cavities, lattice structures, or complex shapes that are difficult or costly to mold are not a problem for 3D printing.

When injection molding is the better choice

When a batch reaches tens of thousands of units and the design is finalized, injection molding usually becomes cheaper per unit and allows a wider range of materials. The decision should be based not only on the per-unit price but also on the total investment, timeline, and the likelihood that the design will still change.

Technologies used for small batches

Depending on requirements, we use SLM, SLS, MJF, FDM, or SLA technologies for small-batch production – covering both plastic and metal parts, and allowing consistent-quality parts to be made without additional tooling costs.

An individual assessment

We can only tell you precisely whether 3D printing or injection molding makes sense for your project once we’ve reviewed your specific quantity, material, and part geometry. Send us your model and the required quantity through our order form – we’ll provide a comparison and a quote.