What are examples of additive manufacturing?

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a process that creates three-dimensional objects by building up layers of material. There are several different types of additive manufacturing techniques, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Which materials are commonly used in additive manufacturing?

A wide variety of materials can be used in additive manufacturing, depending on the specific technology and application. Some common materials used in additive manufacturing include plastics, resins, metals, ceramics and composites. While these are among the most common used in additive manufacturing, researchers are often experimenting and developing new materials.

Are additive manufacturing and 3D printing the same?

Additive manufacturing and 3D printing are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same thing. 3D printing refers specifically to the process of creating a three-dimensional object by building up layers of material. It is a subset of additive manufacturing, which is a broader term that encompasses any process that creates an object by adding material to it, layer by layer. In other words, 3D printing is a specific type of additive manufacturing.

Is it expensive to 3D print?

The cost of 3D printing can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the type of printer, the material used and the size and complexity of the object being printed. For industrial production, the cost is significantly higher than it is for hobbyists or small scale production operations. Some industrial 3D printers cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. These printers can be used to produce large-scale, complex parts and have higher production speeds. The cost of materials used in 3D printing also varies widely depending on the type of material used. For example, plastics are normally cheaper than metals. Overall, 3D printing can be expensive, but it can also offer significant cost savings.

Additive Manufacturing | Plant Engineering

Additive Manufacturing August 2, 2022

Researchers develop faster, more precise 3D-printing process

Multiplexed fused filament fabrication (MF3) is a faster, more precise 3D-printing technique developed by Rutgers University researchers.

By Greg Bruno

Additive Manufacturing July 7, 2022

Motion control helps keep 3D printing equipment in line

The success of additive manufacturing technology is often measured by the efficiency and reliability of the controls.

By Paxton Shantz

Chinedum Okwudire and students in his lab at the University of Michigan demonstrated an early version of the FBS software in 2017. Courtesy of: Evan Dougherty, Michigan Engineering.

Additive Manufacturing June 6, 2022

Software that doubles 3D printing speeds

Ulendo's software solution for printing parts compensates for vibrations without slowing down.

By Kate McAlpine

The new 3D printing system could make it easier to print intricate designs while saving time and material. Courtesy of: Stanford University

Additive Manufacturing June 3, 2022

Developing a better way to do 3D printing

Engineers at Stanford and Harvard have laid the groundwork for a new 3D printing system that doesn’t require an object be printed from the bottom up.

By Laura Castañón

Courtesy: Charissa King-O'Brien, Cornell University

Additive Manufacturing May 28, 2022

3D-printing robot can make construction more sustainable

Cornell researchers have developed an industrial robot capable of 3D printing large-scale structures that could make the construction industry more efficient and sustainable.

By David Nutt

An electron micrograph of nickel-titanium powder is showcased on the left. The researchers can use this powder to fabricate 3D-printed parts, such as nickel-titanium lattices (right). Courtesy of: Texas A&M University

Additive Manufacturing May 20, 2022

Researchers develop 3D-printed shape memory alloys with superior superelasticity

Researchers from Texas A&M University showcased tensile superelasticity by fabricating a shape memory alloy through laser powder bed fusion.

By Michelle Revels

Preventing defects in 3D-printed parts requires understanding the process. To learn more about a nascent metal-printing process known as electron beam powder bed fusion, a team of UW-Madison mechanical engineers, led by assistant professor Lianyi Chen, pioneered a system that allows them to use synchrotron X-rays to view virtually all aspects of it—including inside the part being printed—in real time. PhD student Luis Izet Escano (pictured), whose advisor is Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Lianyi Chen, led development of the system.

Additive Manufacturing May 11, 2022

First X-ray look at electron beam 3D-printing process

To study the electron beam powder bed fusion process, a team is using synchrotron X-ray imaging, diffraction with complementary thermal and visible light imaging.

By Renee Meiller

Additive Manufacturing April 29, 2022

Metal additive manufacturing projected to reach $18 billion by 2032

IDTechEx's report finds the metal additive manufacturing market will recover from COVID-19 and hit $18.5 billion by 2032.

By Sona Dadhania

Courtesy: University of Colorado Boulder

Additive Manufacturing April 27, 2022

3D-printing a robot from scratch

New 3D-printing approach melds solids, liquids

By Daniel Strain

A steel plate in the shape of a Block M is marked with a laser inside the LPBF Panda 11 printer. Photo: Evan Dougherty/Michigan Engineering. Courtesy: University of Michigan

Additive Manufacturing April 18, 2022

Smarter 3D printing makes better parts faster

University of Michigan researchers have found software for powder bed fusion printers optimizes laser's printing path. See video.

By Evan Dougherty