4/28/25

Additive manufacturing(AM) is a type of manufacturing in which you 3D-print the parts you need. 

AM can be performed a variety of different ways, which generally fall under one of the 7+ "families" of AM.

1 - Vat Photopolymerization 

SLA & other Vat Photopolymerization processes uses a liquid photopolymer that is solidified using a UV light/laser to create a part, layer by layer. These processes are suitable for producing high-precision parts with fine details and smooth surface finishes.

2 - Powder Bed Fusion (PBF)

SLS & other PBF processes use a laser to sinter a powdered material, typically a thermoplastic or metal, layer by layer to create a part. These processes are suitable for producing high-strength parts with complex geometries and are commonly used in aerospace and automotive applications.

3 - Binder Jetting

Binder Jetting uses a liquid binder that is selectively deposited onto a dry powder bed to bond particles of powder together, layer by layer. The part is then cured and sintered to produce a final part. This is suitable for producing high-detail parts with complex geometries such as of jewelry, medical devices, etc.

4 - Material Jetting

Material Jetting involves jetting droplets of photopolymer materials onto a build platform. The material is then cured with UV light to solidify each layer. Material Jetting is suitable for producing high-resolution parts with fine details and smooth surface finishes. It is commonly used for prototyping, small-scale production, and dental applications.

5 - Sheet Lamination

Sheet Lamination involves stacking and bonding layers of material together to create a part. This can be done using a variety of methods, including cutting and gluing sheets of material, or laminating sheets of material with an adhesive layer. Sheet Lamination is suitable for producing large parts with low detail resolution, and is commonly used for architectural models and molds.

6 - Material Extrusion

FDM/FFF is a popular AM process that typically use a thermoplastic filament, which is melted and deposited layer by layer to create a part. FDM/FFF is widely used for rapid prototyping and is suitable for producing low-cost parts with moderate mechanical properties. 

7 - Directed Energy Deposition (DED)

DED uses a high-energy heat source, typically a laser or an electron beam, to melt and deposit material layer by layer to create a part. DED is suitable for producing large, complex parts with high strength and is commonly used in the production of aerospace and defense parts.

8 - Hybrid Manufacturing

Hybrid is the best of both worlds.