Why Choose Elimold Over Protolabs?
Elimold is a true manufacturing partner, providing collaborative pre and post order DFM support from technical experts and ensuring complex parts are manufactured exactly as designed, including full support for 2D drawings and tight tolerances. Protolabs prioritizes speed and automation over flexibility, recommending design changes to fit within their limited in-house capabilities rather than delivering the part you need.
Take A Closer Look At How Elimold Outperforms Protolabs
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Complex Parts | Machining per 2D drawings 2D drawing annotation features | Does not support 2D drawings |
| Design | Custom complex parts without compromise | Part designs must conform to allowable tolerances, within the specified capabilities |
| DFM Feedback | Design for manufacturability feedback based off 3D CAD Models and 2D Drawings, etc. | Protolabs offers DFM feedback from 3D CAD models. |
| Production Programs | Elimold provides manufacturing and guided expertise throughout the product development lifecycle. Our dedicated team of experts includes stragegic program managers, supply chain, quality technicians, commodity managers, and mechanical engineers. | Provides a dedicated account manager with production expertise Only offers domestic supply chain management in the US and Europe. |
| Capabilities/Manufacturing Processes | CNC, Injection Molding, Die Casting, Compression Molding, Urethane Casting, 3D Printing, Sheet Metal | CNC, Injection Molding, 3D Printing, Sheet Metal |
Elimold v. Protolabs: Quality
By choosing Elimold, you gain peace of mind knowing that your projects are in the hands of qualified professionals dedicated to delivering exceptional quality.
|  |
|---|---|
| Quality Control | |
Elimold provides rigorous inspections with highly trained quality professionals who examine all parts. This dedicated oversight ensures that every component meets strict quality standards before it reaches the customer. Elimold inspects each part prior to shipment, enabling customers to verify visually that parts meet their quality and specification requirements. | Protolabs performs inspections based on 3D CAD models instead of 2D drawings, which may limit the ability to perform more robust inspections. |
| Vetted Network of Global Manufacturing Centers | |
| Manufacturing centers must complete test parts and are subject to approval based off of inspection of the test parts. They are continuously monitored and rated. | Applying to become a supplier takes 10 minutes. After signing an NDA and MP, suppliers are accepted onto the platform. |
Elimold v. Protolabs: Design
| |
|---|---|
| Design Guidance | |
Elimold is a consultative digital manufacturing company that partners with customers to maintain customer designs and accepts 2D models. | Protolabs automates the process extensively and asks customers to change their designs to fit Protolabs’ process limitations based on customer-supplied 3D CAD part models. |
| Tolerances and Dimensions | |
| Elimold can manufacture tolerances as tight as 0.0001″ and parts as big as 34′ in length. | Protolabs offers tolerances as tight as 0.002″ and up to 25.5″ in length. |
| 2D Drawings for Critical Project Features | |
| Elimold encourages 2D drawings in order to achieve critical project features and dimensions. | Protolabs doesn’t allow uploading of 2D drawings. |
| Technical Expertise to Support Production | |
| Elimold has teams of technical industry experts, strategic program managers, supply chain quality technicians, and logistics personnel who partner with our vetted global supply chain to provide comprehensive solutions to production programs. | Protolabs supports you with a dedicated account manager with production expertise. |
Elimold v. Protolabs : Capabilities
| |
|---|---|
Elimold offers 7 primary manufacturing processes, finishing, and assembly and allows customers to fully specify geometry, dimensions, and tolerances for each part feature. Elimold encourages 2D drawings to be uploaded with GD&T, drawing notes and in-platform annotation. This means a design engineer’s intent will always be conveyed to the manufacturing team. This also ensures that tight tolerances, as well as critical surfaces will be machined per the customer’s specification. | Protolabs offers manufacturing based off 3D CAD model requirements. In the event of changes to Network order, cost prices factors, Seller reserves the right to pass on such additional costs to Buyer |
Elimold v. Protolabs: DFM and DFX
| |
|---|---|
Elimold offers pre- and post-order Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback, which increases efficiency and optimizes costs. Its team of experts routinely reviews 2D drawings or 3D models to provide DFM feedback that will ensure the success of a customer’s design. | Protolabs’ DFM and DFX processes are limited to information contained in 3D CAD models. |
Talk to Our Team
Our team is on stand-by, waiting to assist you.
Let’s build something great, together
Schedule a free consultation with our specialists to kickstart your project.Put your parts into production today.