Hey all,

I’ve been dabbling in 3D printing for a while now and mostly use FDM 3D printing at home for hobby projects. But as I start working on more functional prototypes, I’m curious—how far can FDM really go?

We all know it’s great for:

• Rapid prototyping

• Affordable printing

• Larger prints with low material cost

But where’s the real limit? I’ve seen people print mechanical parts, tools, even small jigs using PLA+ or PETG. But what about real product-ready components?

I recently reached out to Sanesra 3D, a printing service here in India, to understand how professional FDM differs from what I do at home. Turns out, their machines are dialed-in to a level I’ve never reached — and the prints are practically showroom quality. The layers were barely visible, and the tolerances were tight.

I’m seriously considering using a service like that for any client-facing work, while keeping my home printer for concept models.

What are your thoughts? Where do you draw the line between DIY FDM vs professional FDM printing? And is it ever worth upgrading to high-end printers, or just outsourcing to someone like Sanesra?

Would love to hear from industrial users and hobbyists alike!