Like so many businesses, your company is exploring 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Maybe you have the perfect design, and the innate benefits of 3D printing has caught the attention of your team. But while the benefits may be clear, operational costs and implementation may not be. Perhaps your company has considered buying a 3D printer, but aren’t sure about the costs involved and technological expertise needed. Then the question occurs, would it be better to buy a printer or outsource our 3D printing needs? These internal debates have existed for years in the manufacturing realm and especially the 3D printing arena. Fortunately, the field has expanded in such a way that owning a printer and outsourcing don’t always have to be mutually exclusive. Below we’ve highlighted four important considerations when thinking through these options: 1. Advanced Equipment and Materials Prototypes are just a percentage of the parts produced in major 3D printing services bureaus...