There has been on lot of discussion on 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing software. Many people intertwine both, but do you know the differences? In this article, I explore what they are and how they differ.
How does 3D Printing technology Work Exactly?
The fundamental process of 3D printing begins with a digital 3D model created through specialized design software. Basically, this virtual blueprint serves as the foundation for the physical object. The printer’s software then divides this model into layers, With The actual printing occurs as the machine deposits material layer by layer according to these precise calculations. Whether using molten plastic filament, liquid resin, or metal powder, the printer builds the object from bottom to top.
What is Additive Manufacturing?
Additive manufacturing involves building up layers of material, whether that’s metals, plastics, alloys, or composites, to create solid objects. This is compared to traditional manufacturing, which instead subtracts raw material. It’s a manufacturing approach that’s well suited to the aerospace and defense, automotive, life sciences and consumer goods industries, to name but a few. And it’s fast gaining traction not just for building prototypes, but final products.
Additive Manufacturing software solutions excel in reducing material waste compared to traditional manufacturing methods. For example, when producing titanium aircraft parts, AM typically uses 90% less raw material than conventional machining processes.
The field continues to expand with breakthrough innovations in materials science. Contemporary systems can work with an extensive range of substances, from advanced polymers to biocompatible materials used in tissue engineering. Manufacturing facilities worldwide now leverage these capabilities to streamline production cycles and create previously impossible designs.
3D Printing vs. Additive Manufacturing
While both terms are often used interchangeably, additive manufacturing encompasses a broader scope of industrial processes. The manufacturing sector primarily uses AM for creating production tools, functional prototypes, and end-use parts with complex geometries.
One of the most common forms of additive manufacturing, however, is 3D printing. 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process, but the difference between the two is that additive manufacturing is a broader category that includes a wider variety of processes compared to only 3D printing. Additionally, 3D printing produces parts by adding material layer by layer. Additive manufacturing produces parts by adding material, which may not necessarily be added in layers.
Additive manufacturing is an innovative process that builds parts or products by adding material rather than by taking away from it as in CNC machining. Following the programming of CAM/CAD software for cnc machining, with additive manufacturing you can produce the intended part or product design by adding material.
Additional resources
Web page: DELMIA Additive Manufacturing