Resin 3D printing: the small-batch specialist
Resin printing (SLA/MSLA) is ideal when you need high detail at low quantities. It needs no tooling, so your upfront cost is near zero — you pay per printed part. It’s the go-to for prototypes, one-off statues, and runs in the hundreds.
The trade-offs: resin prints are more brittle than injection-molded PVC, the per-unit cost doesn’t drop much as volume rises, and the surface finish often needs manual post-processing (support removal, sanding, painting).
PVC injection molding: the volume workhorse
Injection molding shines when you need thousands of consistent, durable parts. The upfront tooling cost is real, but once the molds are made, the per-unit cost drops steeply. Molded parts are stronger, more consistent, and better suited to playable figures with articulation.
The trade-off: tooling means a higher entry cost, so it only makes sense when your volume justifies it.
Where the line is
As a rough guide: under roughly 500–1,000 pieces, resin printing usually wins on cost and speed. Over that, injection molding takes over — the tooling pays for itself and the per-unit price keeps dropping as volume climbs.
The best answer might be both
Many of our clients prototype in resin to validate the design, then move to injection molding for the production run. It de-risks the tooling investment because you’ve already confirmed the design works.
Not sure where your project falls? Tell us your quantity and your goals — we’ll recommend the most cost-effective process for your specific run.