What is a common disadvantage of 3D printing compared to traditional manufacturing?

Higher material costs are indeed a common disadvantage of 3D printing compared to traditional manufacturing methods. In many cases, the materials used in additive manufacturing can be significantly more expensive than those used in subtractive manufacturing processes, such as machining or injection molding. This higher cost is partially due to the specialized nature of the materials, which may be designed for specific applications or require complex processing to achieve the desired properties.

Traditional manufacturing methods often benefit from economies of scale and can use less expensive materials in bulk production, which is ideal for producing large quantities of items. Additionally, while 3D printing allows for a high degree of customization and design flexibility, it sometimes comes at a greater material cost per item, especially for production runs where lower costs might be more efficiently achieved with traditional manufacturing techniques. Therefore, the choice of higher material costs correctly highlights a notable limitation of 3D printing in certain contexts.