Category: Cost & ROI

A buyer’s guide to the small batch casting process: when tooling pays off, how to write an RFQ suppliers can actually answer, what drives per-part cost, and how to run a pilot order.

Alloy, size and tolerance set your shortlist. Annual volume picks the winner. A three-way comparison of sand, investment and die casting, with the crossover points that decide it.

Desktop Metal is now part of Nano Dimension. Here is what the consolidation means for buyers, and how an open-material metal binder jetting platform compares on cost and control.

Best sand 3D printers in 2026 ranked by build volume, value, and accuracy. Compare 3DPTEK, ExOne, and voxeljet on specs, price, and 5-year TCO with a decision framework.

Need an ExOne alternative? Compare 5 sand 3D printers on specs, price, and TCO. 3DPTEK offers larger build volume, open materials, and 40% lower 5-year cost.

Looking for a voxeljet alternative? Compare 7 sand 3D printers on build volume, price, delivery, and 5-year TCO. 3DPTEK delivers 40% lower cost with open materials and 2-month delivery.

Western vs Chinese 3D printers: an unbiased cost-benefit comparison of price, uptime, support, and total cost of ownership for foundry buyers.

Metal 3D printer cost in 2026: machine prices, consumables, and operating expenses for SLM and binder jetting systems — with realistic foundry budgets.

Open vs closed material systems in binder jetting: how binder compatibility, consumable pricing, and print quality shape your long-term operating cost.

Metal binder jetting vs SLM: compare cost per part, density, surface finish, and throughput — and find the right process for your production volume.