Also known as 3D Printing
Has an advantage over traditional subtractive manufacturing methods in that it can handle complex geometries and customizable products with minimal waste.
On the other hand, when compared to subtractive manufacturing, additive manufacturing is less suitable for mass production, especially of products. It benefits less from economies of scale compared to subtractive manufacturing.
The typical workflow of an Additive Manufacturing Process is as follows
- Design and Model the print object. Design should take into consideration the technology to be used for the Additive Manufacturing Process.
- Convert to an STL file. An STL (stereolithography) file captures information that can be interpreted by 3D printers and used for building objects. The process is similar to that of rendering .
- Slicing - the STL file is transformed into a series of thin horizontal layers called slices. This also includes generating G-Codes which are low level instructions for controlling the printer.
- Printing - the G-codes are fed to the printer and the printing process is initiated, translating the model into a physical object.

Misc

4D printing involves printing objects that can change shape or function in response to stimuli. Involves the use of smart materials as the print material.

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