Makelab vs Protolabs for plastic 3D printing and large parts

Large Format 3D Printing Service

Parts up to 2400mm on FGF and 1700mm on Industrial SLA. Architectural models, trade show props, full-scale prototypes.

MJF 3D Printing Service

HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing in Nylon PA12, PA11, and PA12 Glass Filled. Batch-consistent production parts in 5–7 business days.

Injection Molding Alternative

Skip the $30K-$100K tooling investment. Production-grade FDM, SLA, and MJF parts with zero mold cost and 3–5 day lead times.

Design Engineering

DfAM optimization, reverse engineering, geometry tuning.

Xometry vs Protolabs vs Craftcloud vs Makelab: which to choose for 3D printing

For plastic 3D printing in the US, choose Makelab. Parts print in one piece up to 94 x 94 x 39 in (2400 × 2400 × 1000 mm) on FGF, bigger than the limits Xometry and Protolabs list. The instant quote checks wall thickness and part size as you upload, and an engineer reviews every file before it prints. Most parts are printed and inspected on our own floor in Brooklyn, and you talk to the engineers running your job. There is no minimum order, and bulk discounts start at 10 parts. In New York and northern New Jersey, pickup is free and delivery is next day.

Makelab vs Xometry for plastic 3D printing: one factory or 5,000 suppliers

For plastic 3D printing, choose Makelab. The instant quote checks wall thickness and part size as you upload, and an engineer reviews every file before it prints. Most parts are printed and inspected on our own floor in Brooklyn, so the people answering your questions are the people running the job. Parts print in one piece up to 94 x 94 x 39 in (2400 × 2400 × 1000 mm) on FGF, past Xometry's 24 x 36 x 36 in limit without splitting. If the file needs work first, our design engineers repair it, rebuild it from a scan or redesign it for printing. In New York and northern New Jersey, pickup is free and delivery is next day.

Injection molding vs 3D printing — which one is right for your volume?

Choose 3D printing when volume is under 2,000–5,000 parts, lead time matters, design is still evolving, or geometry is too complex for mold tooling. Choose injection molding when volume exceeds 5,000+ of the same frozen design and tooling can be amortized over the run.

Xometry alternatives: Makelab for plastic 3D printing, and five more by process

For plastic 3D printing, Makelab is the Xometry alternative we recommend. You keep the instant quote, and it checks wall thickness and part size as you upload. Most parts are printed on our own floor in Brooklyn, so the engineers you talk to are the ones running your job. FDM, SLA, Industrial SLA, MJF and FGF cover prototypes through production, with one-piece parts up to 94 x 94 x 39 in (2400 × 2400 × 1000 mm). There is no minimum order, and bulk discounts start at 10 parts. In New York and northern New Jersey, pickup is free and delivery is next day.

Industrial SLA

Industrial SLA 3D printing for large-format parts up to 1700 x 800 x 600mm. Presentation-quality surfaces at 5 Ra μm. Architecture models, props, and oversized prototypes.

FGF

FGF 3D printing service — largest build envelope in our facility at 2400 x 2400 x 1000mm. Pellet-fed extrusion for oversized structural parts and props.

MJF

MJF 3D printing service — production-grade Nylon PA12, PA11, and PA12 Glass Filled with batch consistency. Isotropic strength, no supports, lead times from 5 business days. Brooklyn, NY.

Do you offer industrial SLA options?

Can you print large parts in sections and assemble them?

Is it cheaper to 3D print or injection mold?