Foundations and impacts of 3D printing

3D printing terminology and additive manufacturing

3D printing, also called additive manufacturing (AM), is the computer-controlled construction of a three-dimensional object from CAD/digital 3D model data by depositing, joining, or solidifying material—often layer by layer. Early on (e.g., in the 1980s), the technology was mainly associated with functional or aesthetic prototypes and was commonly referred to as “rapid prototyping.” As capabilities improved, some industrial processes became viable for production, and AM began to be used more broadly and formally, sometimes synonymously with 3D printing. Terminology has evolved: “additive manufacturing” gained popularity in the 2000s to emphasize material being added together, while “subtractive manufacturing” is used as a retronym for machining processes that remove material. In casual use, “3D printing” and “additive manufacturing” are often treated as interchangeable, but some standards and industry experts distinguish them—for example, defining AM as building parts from 3D model data with layer-by-layer material addition, while describing 3D printing more specifically as depositing material through a print head/nozzle. Related terms include desktop manufacturing, rapid manufacturing, and on-demand manufacturing, as well as concepts like agile tooling (modular tooling designed and produced using additive methods).

0/2 modes complete

Additive versus subtractive manufacturing

0/2 modes complete