Why Outsourcing Still Matters—Even If You Own a Desktop 3D Printer

As 3D printing has spread around the world, home prototyping and individuals owning 3D printers have become more common. Having a desktop 3D printer at home has its benefits, especially for prototyping small parts and making quick design changes. It’s perfect for educational purposes, hobby projects, and rapid prototyping at home if you don’t need a large object made from advanced materials.

Read more and find out in what cases you can still benefit from Online 3D Printing Instant Quote - JLC3DP, even if you already have a desktop 3D printer at home.

Common Desktop 3D printers

The most commonly used 3D printing technology at home is still FDM （Fused Deposition Modelling). This technology is widely used by consumers due to its accessibility and budget-friendly aspect. A spool of thermoplastic filament – typically PLA or ABS - is loaded into the 3D printer. The filament is guided through a heated extruder nozzle, where it is melted into a semi-liquid state and layer-by-layer your object comes to life.

Using one of these desktop FDM printers is easy to learn, and online resources make troubleshooting simple. Whether you need strong, functional tools or fun decorative gadgets, you can create something you need with no waiting time.

Source: Ultimaker; wenext.com

Popular desktop 3D printer brands include Prusa, Creality, Bambu Lab, and Ultimaker, each designed for consumer-friendly use. However, if your 3D model requires a larger building platform or specific material properties, you may need to explore other technologies

With our 3D Printing Design Guideline, you can get some help to understand what 3D printing technology suits your needs and expectations the best.

Beyond the Build Plate: When Desktop 3D Printers Aren’t Enough

You might need higher precision, durability or strength for your parts and that’s when online 3D printing services can be helpful. Whether it’s a functional part that needs chemical or heat resistance, or a prototype that requires a smooth finish for a client presentation, there are several reasons for needing an industrial-grade technology with access to advanced materials and large industrial printers.

The benefits of outsourcing your project:

● Larger build size: Industrial printers with a bigger building platform.

● High precision and surface quality: Finer details, and a smooth finish.

● Ready-to-use parts: Skip the post-processing with services that offer dyeing, polishing, or smoothing.

● Time saving: No iterations to deal with, you just submit your order without dealing with the troubleshooting.

● No upfront investment: In case you don’t own a desktop printer at home yet, you don’t need to invest before getting your first print.

● Wide range of materials to try: A variety of materials with properties and characteristics you can’t try at home.

Whether you already own a desktop 3D printer at home or you are just playing with the idea of purchasing one, online 3D printing services remain a valuable option. Depending on the complexity, function, and purpose of the object, choosing the right material and technology is always essential.

Available technologies and advanced materials

With the continuous development of additive manufacturing, the available technologies, accuracy, and choice of colours and materials brought a whole new level of quality to your 3D models. From full-color resins to stainless steel, the range is impressive—and so are the final results.

With the versatile properties and characteristics of today’s materials you can find on the market, there are nearly no limits when it comes to manufacturing high-performance and demanding 3D models. Chemical- and heat-resistant materials, ESD safe (antistatic) filaments, biodegradable plastics, carbon-reinforced polymers, and high-performance metals are driving innovation and shaping the 3D printing industry for the better.

At Online 3D Printing Instant Quote - JLC3DP, we offer seven different 3D printing technologies, and a broad range of materias, including full colour resin, fine titanium powder, flexible TPU, UV-resistant ASA filament or heat-resistant Nylon, just to mention some of the options you can choose from, without listing it all.

Whether you already have a 3D model or need help choosing the best technology, we’re here to help. Get a free quote today—or Contact Us - 3D with any questions about your order!