Additive Manufacturing – Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

<p>Additive manufacturing (AM) is a relatively new manufacturing method that compiles different techniques to join materials together material on top of existing structure in order to make parts from 3D-model data—typically layer by layer. Additive manufacturing is a combination of different technologies such as CAD (computer-aided design), CAM (computer-aided manufacturing), laser and electron energy beam technology, CNC (computer numerical control) machining, and laser scanning. Some of these technologies existed already in the 1950s, but only in the 1980s the maturity of the different technologies enabled the creation of additive manufacturing. The term additive manufacturing substitutes historical terms, such as solid freeform fabrication, freeform fabrication,and rapid prototyping and it is also commonly called 3D-printing in nontechnical contexts and in colloquial language.</p>