What Is Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing?

What Is Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing?

Additive manufacturing is an emerging technology that transforms a digital CAD (computer-aided design) model into a physical, three-dimensional solid object using layers of material to create the final product.additive manufacturing and 3d printing This differs from traditional manufacturing processes, which shape an end result through reduction or subtraction of material. The etymology of the term “additive manufacturing” also highlights its methodical approach to shaping an object through the addition of different materials in varying shapes, rather than carving or cutting away parts of an existing material to make the final product.

Traditionally, 3D printing has been used to create prototyping products and to produce smaller scale production runs of new designs.additive manufacturing and 3d printing However, with the advent of more advanced printers and materials, it’s now possible to create a wide variety of durable end-use components for a range of industries. These capabilities include aerospace, automotive and medical. Additionally, many of these technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated and capable of producing parts with a much higher level of strength and precision than would be achievable using traditional subtractive techniques.

There are several different ways to print an additive part, with each type of printer utilizing its own unique process.additive manufacturing and 3d printing For example, stereolithography apparatus (SLA) uses a liquid resin that is held in a vat to which a laser or light is flashed to cure and harden the material one layer at a time. This technique is ideal for printing intricate, highly accurate, and strong components.

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is another additive technology.additive manufacturing and 3d printing This process works by aiming lasers at material powder to melt and fuse it together into the desired shape, again, one layer at a time. SLS can be used to create anatomically accurate medical models and other precise components.

Metal additive manufacturing is now a viable option for a variety of industrial applications. HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing, for example, offers a broader range of materials than traditional printers, including titanium and nickel alloys as well as stainless steel. This allows manufacturers to create more robust, high-strength components that can withstand greater amounts of stress and strain than their plastic counterparts.

Other types of metal additive manufacturing include direct energy deposition (DED) and arc welding, which use a plasma arc or electron beam to melt and fuse metallic powders into place. This allows for a more complex and customizable build than with SLS, SLA or SLM.

Most additive manufacturing machines are now connected to the internet and able to communicate with each other, allowing them to store part files in a digital library and to be automatically updated with the latest software versions. Increasingly, these machines are also being equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) to help automate and augment the printing process, making them more efficient, accurate, and productive. In addition, these smart printers often act as data collection hubs, sending their fabrication and usage metrics to the cloud where they can be analyzed, interpreted, and used to make improvements in future prints.

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