Additive Manufacturing (AM): the process and technologies utilized to create three-dimensional (3D) objects by building the object layer-by-layer with a desired material. This material (plastic, metal, and much more...) is ADDED in this layer fashion instead of the more commonly and older technologies of subtractive manufacturing such as milling, routing, machining, carving, etc. where material is removed from a stock shape to create the desired object. |
A disruptive technology that can be considered a major innovative complement to currently existing production technologies and where the design and application possibilities are almost limitless! |
Overview of AM Technologies
AM is a difficult process to categorize and introduce, as the number of different technologies that are considered AM are myriad and are growing exponentially very quickly. Even within what are considered the major categories, there are many different variations, some with only minute differences, but others with major modifications and innovative updates. Additionally, as such a new field of innovation, many have and are creating hybrid versions where multiple AM technologies are being combined into one process.
| Major AM Category | Non-Exhaustive List of Included Technologies | Brief Description | Material Feedstock Form | Energy Used for Material Consolidation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material Extrusion | Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) | Deposit of thermoplastic filament in a layer-by-layer fashion through thermal extrusion |
| Filament | Thermal (sometimes additional UV or Laser) |
| Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) | Same process as FFF, but FDM is a trademarked term | Filament | Thermal (sometimes additional UV or Laser) | ||
| Continuous Fiber (CF3D) | Use of continuous fiber reinforcement (either incorporated into the thermoplastic resin or applied separately) in order to gain additional mechanical reinforcement through specific designs | Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Filament | Thermal (sometimes additional UV or Laser) | ||
| Powder Bed Fusion | Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) | Application of layers of powder that are sequentially exposed to a laser that melts the current layer design. The laser penetrates multiple layers of powder to adhere the various layers together as the print progresses |
| Powder | Thermal and Directed Laser |
| Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF) | Use of Ultraviolet (UV) energy |
| Powder with Liquid Additives (Spray) | Thermal and UV | |
| Vat Polymerization | Stereolithography (SLA) |
| Liquid | Directed Laser | |
| Digital Light Processing (DLP) | Liquid | Directed Laser | |||
| Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP) or Continuous Digital Light Processing (CDLP) | Liquid | Directed Laser | |||
| PolyJet |
| Liquid | Directed Laser | ||
| Jetting | Material Jetting |
| Liquid Spray | UV | |
| Binder Jetting |
| Powder with Liquid Additives (Spray) | UV | ||
| Composite Hybrid Techniques | Additive Fusion Technology (AFT) | Various | Thermal and Pressure | ||
| Sheet Lamination |
| Various | Thermal and Pressure | ||
