3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file. It is achieved using additive processes, where an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced cross-section of the object. 3D printing is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing, which is cutting out or hollowing out a piece of metal or plastic with, for instance, a milling machine.
The process of 3D printing starts with a 3D model, which can be created from scratch or downloaded from a 3D library. The virtual design is made using computer-aided design (CAD) software, which can create precise drawings and technical illustrations. A virtual design can also be made using a 3D scanner, which creates a copy of an existing object by taking pictures of it from different angles. Once the virtual design is complete, it is sent to the 3D printer, which reads the design and creates the object by adding material layer by layer.
One of the key advantages of 3D printing is the ability to produce very complex shapes or geometries using less material than traditional manufacturing methods. As of 2019, the precision, repeatability, and material range of 3D printing have increased to the point that some 3D printing processes are considered viable as an industrial-production technology, whereby the term additive manufacturing can be used synonymously with 3D printing.
