10 Questions to Ask Before Buying an Industrial 3D Printer

Buying an industrial 3D printer or additive manufacturing system is not a decision you can make by comparing catalogues. The quickest way to find the right machine is to see it running and ask its manufacturer the right questions. Take this list with you as you walk the aisles at EXPO3D Istanbul, and you will leave every conversation with a clearer answer.

First, ask yourself

1. Which part will I make, and how many?

Everything starts here. Will you produce prototypes, tooling and fixtures, or end-use parts? A few parts a year and hundreds a week call for entirely different classes of machine. Bring a drawing or a sample of the part you want to make, and ask each manufacturer: “How would you produce this on your machine?”

2. Which technology suits the job?

Additive manufacturing is not a single technology. Roughly:

• Filament (FDM/FFF): cost-effective for jigs, fixtures and functional prototypes.
• Resin (SLA/DLP): parts that need a high surface finish and fine detail, dental and jewellery applications.
• Polymer powder bed (SLS and similar): durable plastic parts without supports, close to series production.
• Metal powder bed (LPBF/SLM): complex metal parts for defence, aerospace and medical.
• Directed energy deposition (DED, WAAM): large metal parts, repair and cladding.

The advantage of a trade show is that you can compare all of them side by side on the same day.

Then, ask the manufacturer

3. Which materials can I use, and is it an open system?

Does the machine only run on the manufacturer’s own materials, or can you use materials from other suppliers? This directly affects your operating cost over the years. Also ask whether the material you plan to use has validated parameters on that machine.

4. What are the real build volume and production speed?

The largest volume and highest speed in the catalogue do not always apply to your part. Ask for an estimate of build time and how many parts fit on one build plate, for your own part.

5. Which tolerances and surface finish can you guarantee?

Ask for dimensional accuracy and surface roughness figures and, if possible, a sample part with a measurement report. If your part will be machined afterwards, say so from the start.

6. What happens to the part after printing?

Printing is only part of the process. What equipment, how much time and how many people are needed for post-processing such as support removal, depowdering, heat treatment, surface finishing and machining? For metal systems, always ask about powder handling, shielding gas and safety requirements.

7. What is the total cost of ownership?

The machine price is only one item in the total cost. Ask for an estimate that includes consumables, spare parts, the annual service contract, software licences, energy and gas consumption, post-processing equipment and operator time. Compare the cost per part with your current production method.

8. How do the software and workflow work?

Which software is used for file preparation, support generation and process monitoring? Is it compatible with your CAD system? Is the licence included with the machine or charged annually?

9. Is there local service and spare-parts support?

When the machine stops, production stops. Ask whether there is an authorised service team and spare-parts stock in Türkiye or your region, and what the typical response time is. This matters even more for systems bought from abroad.

10. Do you provide training, and who are your references?

Is operator and designer training part of the installation? Are there companies in your industry using this machine, and can you talk to them? A good supplier is happy to show its references.

At EXPO3D Istanbul 2026, 127 exhibitors and more than 320 brands brought together the whole production chain, from industrial 3D printing systems and materials to software, post-processing and quality control. EXPO3D Istanbul 2027 takes place on 30 September – 2 October 2027 at Istanbul Expo Center. You can get the answers to these questions in a single day, while watching the machines at work.