Metal 3D printing vs CNC machining: cost comparison
Short answer: CNC is cheaper for almost every conventional metal part. Metal printing pays off only when geometry is impossible to machine - internal channels, lattices, consolidated assemblies - or material waste on exotic alloys is extreme.
Cost comparison at a glance
| Metal (DMLS/SLM) | CNC Milling | |
|---|---|---|
| One-off part | $150-600 | $40-150 |
| Batch of 100 (per part) | $80-300 | $15-60 |
| Production volume (per part) | $60-200 | $8-30 |
| Typical lead time | 5-10 days | 2-5 days |
| Tolerance | ±0.1 mm | ±0.05 mm |
| Materials | 316L, Ti64, AlSi10Mg, Inconel | aluminum, steel, brass, titanium, plastics |
These are indicative service-market ranges for a palm-sized part — your own costs depend on your machines, rates and region. Both calculators below let you price the same part both ways with your numbers and see the crossover for yourself.
Choose Metal (DMLS/SLM) when…
- internal cooling channels or lattices
- part consolidation (5 parts become 1)
- titanium aerospace parts with terrible buy-to-fly ratios
- short-run complex geometries
Choose CNC Milling when…
- any part machinable in 1-3 setups
- tight tolerances and fine surface finish
- cost-sensitive metal parts
- certified bar-stock material properties
Price your part in seconds with the free Metal (DMLS/SLM) cost calculator — upload your file, quantities and machine time are estimated automatically.
Open the Metal (DMLS/SLM) cost calculator →Price your part in seconds with the free CNC Milling cost calculator — upload your file, quantities and machine time are estimated automatically.
Open the CNC Milling cost calculator →Put AI-powered instant quoting on your own website
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