"3D printing or additive manufacturing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model."
Use 3D printing technology to produce a prototype of a product quickly.
Additive Manufacturing: A process of material addition in which layers of material are added on top of each other until a complete product is formed.
Subtractive Manufacturing: A process of material removal in which excess material is removed using cutting tools until the desired shape and size are achieved.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD): Computer software that allows the creation, modification, and optimization of designs in a virtual environment.
Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM): Computer software that generates machine tool paths directly from CAD models.
Rapid Tooling: The process of quickly creating molds, dies, or other tools used in the production of prototype parts.
Stereolithography (SLA): A form of additive manufacturing that uses liquid resin that is solidified with the help of a laser beam.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM): A process of additive manufacturing that uses melted plastic to create layers of material that form a three-dimensional object.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS): A process of additive manufacturing that uses a laser to heat and fuse layers of powdered material until a complete object is formed.
Laser Cutting: A process of subtractive manufacturing that uses a laser beam to cut through various materials, such as metal, plastic, and wood.
Injection Molding: A process in which liquid plastic is injected into a mold to create a specific shape.
CNC Machining: A process in which computer-controlled machines remove material from a physical object to create a desired shape.
Vacuum Casting: A process used to create multiple copies of a prototype part by pouring liquid material into a vacuum-sealed mold.
Rapid Prototyping Materials: A variety of materials such as plastics, metals, and composites that can be utilized in rapid prototyping processes.
Design Optimization: The process of modifying a design to improve its functionality, manufacturability, and/or cost-effectiveness.
Quality Control: The process of ensuring that the final product meets specified specifications, standards, and requirements.
Stereolithography (SLA): Stereolithography (SLA) is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a laser to solidify layers of liquid resin to create three-dimensional prototypes and parts.
Digital Light Processing (DLP): Digital Light Processing (DLP) is a technology that uses micromirror arrays to create high-resolution and accurate 3D printed objects by projecting light onto liquid resin.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM): Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a 3D printing technology that builds objects layer by layer by extruding and fusing thermoplastic materials.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS): Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing process that uses a high-powered laser to selectively fuse powdered materials into solid objects, layer by layer, based on a 3D computer model.
Electron Beam Melting (EBM): Electron Beam Melting (EBM) is an additive manufacturing process that uses an electron beam to selectively melt metal powder layer by layer to create three-dimensional parts.
Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM): Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) is an additive manufacturing technique that involves layering and cutting thin sheets of material to create three-dimensional objects.
Binder Jetting (BJ): Binder Jetting (BJ) is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a powdered material and liquid binder to create 3D objects by selectively binding the powder particles together layer by layer.
Direct Energy Deposition (DED): Direct Energy Deposition (DED) is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a focused energy source to deposit material layer by layer, allowing for the rapid production and repair of complex metal parts.
Polyjet Technology: Polyjet technology is a 3D printing technique that creates precise prototypes by jetting and curing multiple layers of liquid photopolymer.
3D Printing (3DP): 3D printing (3DP) is an additive manufacturing process that uses computer-aided design (CAD) data to build three-dimensional objects layer by layer, enabling rapid prototyping and customization.
Laser Metal Deposition (LMD): Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) is a rapid prototyping technique that uses a high-power laser to melt and deposit metal powder layers onto a substrate, enabling the creation of complex metal components with precise geometric details.
Injection Molding (IM): Injection Molding (IM) is a manufacturing process that involves injecting molten material into a mold cavity to create high-volume, complex 3D parts with precision and efficiency.
CNC Machining: CNC machining is a computer-controlled process that uses precise cutting tools to shape and manufacture parts from various materials.
Vacuum Casting: Vacuum casting is a rapid prototyping technique that involves creating silicone molds and using vacuum pressure to replicate intricate parts or components using liquid materials.
Sheet Metal Prototyping: Sheet metal prototyping involves creating quick and cost-effective prototypes using thin sheets of metal to evaluate the design, fit, and functionality of a product before mass production.
Reaction Injection Molding (RIM): Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) is a manufacturing process that utilizes a chemical reaction between two liquid ingredients to produce highly durable and complex plastic parts.
Blow Molding: Blow molding refers to a manufacturing process in which parison, a hollow tube of plastic, is inflated to create various products with a seamless and hollow structure.
Extrusion Molding: Extrusion molding is a manufacturing process that involves forcing molten material through a die, creating a continuous shape with a consistent cross-section.
Wire EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining): Wire EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) is a precision machining process that utilizes electrical sparks to cut intricate shapes in conductive materials.
Waterjet cutting.: Waterjet cutting is a manufacturing process that uses a high-pressure jet of water to precisely and efficiently cut through various materials.
"It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer control, with the material being added together (such as plastics, liquids or powder grains being fused), typically layer by layer."
"In the 1980s, 3D printing techniques were considered suitable only for the production of functional or aesthetic prototypes."
"A more appropriate term for it at the time was rapid prototyping."
"As of 2019, the precision, repeatability, and material range of 3D printing have increased, and some 3D printing processes are considered viable as an industrial-production technology."
"The term additive manufacturing can be used synonymously with 3D printing."
"One of the key advantages of 3D printing is the ability to produce very complex shapes or geometries that would be otherwise infeasible to construct by hand."
"Hollow parts or parts with internal truss structures to reduce weight."
"Fused deposition modeling (FDM), which uses a continuous filament of a thermoplastic material, is the most common 3D printing process in use as of 2020."