Outsourcing 3D Printing: When It Makes Business Sense
Learn when outsourcing 3D printing saves time, money, and stress versus in-house production. Find the best approach for your business. Discover how outsourcing your 3D printing production can save costs, improve quality, and speed up your product development cycle while letting your team focus on innovation.
DIY or Outsource?
3D printing has never been more accessible —but is printing in-house always the best move?
Outsourcing your 3D printing parts can save you time, money, and stress. We get it. Everyone likes to control their own destiny, and for the manufacturing world, this means making parts in-house.
But does that make DIY printing the right choice? Maybe, but then again, maybe not.
Running a 3D Printer Is Easy. Mastering It Isn’t.
Professional additive manufacturing is far more than hitting “print.” It demands expertise in part orientation, support strategy, thermal control, and post-processing—all crucial for achieving top-tier quality.
At Projet, our engineers bring years of experience and thousands of successful builds across SLA, SLS, MJF, and FDM help customers refine their designs for manufacturability—creating parts that are stronger, lighter, and production-ready.
When you outsource to us, you’re not just buying a print—you’re gaining design expertise, process precision, and consistency that move your projects faster from concept to production.
Cost Considerations: Balancing Investment and Output
Owning a 3D printer feels empowering, but it’s not always the most cost-effective path.
For metal additive manufacturing, the barrier to entry is especially high. Industrial metal printers can cost as much as CNC machining centers. Sometimes hundreds of thousands of ringgits—plus the added expenses of training, maintenance, software, and post-processing.
Even polymer printers, while more affordable, come with hidden costs. Desktop FDM or SLA printers under MYR1,000 might seem appealing, but materials like nylon or advanced resins often require specialized equipment and climate-controlled storage. Feedstocks can also expire if not handled correctly.
Outsourcing to Projet’s professional 3D printing services eliminates these upfront investments. You gain access to high-performance equipment, advanced materials, and expert operators—without the overhead.
Desktop vs. Industrial 3D Printing: The Quality Gap
Desktop printers are excellent for quick concept models, but industrial-grade 3D printers take accuracy, repeatability, and surface quality to another level.
At Projet, our machines deliver tight tolerances, good finishes, and superior material properties that are nearly impossible to achieve with consumer-grade printers. Industrial printers also offer larger build volumes, faster throughput, and better part integrity for functional prototypes and end-use components.
Desktop printers may be convenient, but they require frequent calibration, produce limited part sizes, and often generate fumes that demand proper ventilation. The difference in quality becomes especially apparent when parts need to fit precisely, perform under stress, or meet industry certification standards.
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In-House vs. Outsourced 3D Printing: A Quick Comparison
| Category | In-House 3D Printing | Outsourced 3D Printing (Projet) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Cost | High initial investment | No setup cost |
| Part Quality | Basic to moderate | Professional-grade |
| Materials | Limited selection | Wide range of polymers and metals |
| Production Volume | Low | Scalable from 1 to 10,000+ |
| Lead Time | Immediate (if capacity allows) | Fast turnaround |
| Expertise Required | In-house training | Supported by experienced engineers |
| Post-Processing | Manual, limited | Full finishing and inspection services |
| Best For | Early prototypes, hobby projects | Production-quality parts, client-ready prototypes |
Why Choose Projet as Your Scale Model Partner
At Projet, we combine cutting-edge 3D printing technologies, expert guidance, and end-to-end production services to help you bring ideas to life faster and more efficiently.
Whether you’re a startup testing a new concept or a global manufacturer scaling production, we provide:
🔹 Fast, reliable turnaround times
🔹 Wide material selection (polymers, metals, composites)
🔹 Advanced finishing and inspection capabilities
🔹 Design-for-manufacturing support from experienced engineers
When you partner with Projet, you get more than parts—you get a production partner committed to your success.
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