3D printer selection: buy the right machine, not the most expensive

When you need this

• Facing a first purchase and the market is a mess
• You have an application and don't know the technology
• Hesitating between FDM, SLA/DLP, SLS or metal

What you get

• A recommendation of 2-3 concrete models
• Reasoning: technology, material, tolerances, volumes
• A real cost of ownership, not just the box price

How it works

1. What you produce, in what volume, what budget
2. Analysis: application vs technologies and machines
3. Recommendation: written, with models and reasoning

Typical cases

• The customer who bought SLA for parts born for FDM: Functional mechanical parts needing strength went to a resin printer for a nicer surface finish: they cracked at first assembly. The choice ran backwards: from machine to application.
• The company with three printers from three different systems: Each printer was bought separately, with no shared logic: different materials, different software, different maintenance. The fleet grew, but production didn't get more predictable.
• The €50,000 machine doing a €2,000 job: An industrial-grade unit was bought for prototypes with low tolerance and volume needs. The investment only paid off once the application actually grew.

The rules that solve most of the problems

• The application picks the technology, not the reverse: You define what the machine will produce first, then you look for the machine.
• Material is part of the machine, not an accessory: Availability, cost and material properties can undercut an otherwise good machine.
• Tolerances decide the machine class: A precision requirement beyond a technology's reach means changing the technology, not the settings.
• Volume decides the automation: One printer for a prototype and ten for a series follow different selection logic.

Who it's for

Companies and people facing a first or next printer investment.

Request a consultation

Describe your case and I'll send you a quote. Price: on request.