Compare processes

Help procurement and engineers pick the right path — a pattern used by top digital-manufacturing and OEM sites.

Need	Prefer	Watch-outs
Validate design in days	Rapid prototype (CNC/SLA)	Material & strength differ from production resin
Long-run plastic parts	Injection mold + molding	Tooling lead time & steel choice drive cost
Metal housings / brackets	Die casting	Draft, porosity control, secondary machine
Large shallow covers	Vacuum forming	Detail/tolerance limits vs injection
Cosmetic + assembly ready	Molding + secondary	Define surface class early