3D printing technology in industry

Abstract

Rapid prototyping is a group of various techniques which is used to manufacture a physical scale model in the minimum possible time using computer aided design (CAD) data. The constructional process is being carried out by “three dimensional (3D) printing” or “Additive layer manufacturing”. These technologies belong to the non-traditional manufacturing processes unlike the computer numerical control (CNC) working or molds or casting processes. The main idea supporting this technology is building a 3D model by creating a layer over layer. The seed of 3D printing started rooting in the year of 1980s and now has evolved into a various sets of technologies that could eventually change the production process sense in different sectors. This report shares some important information, about the so far developments in 3D printing and its technologies, from the perspective of personalities from mechanical background. The world is experiencing innovations in technologies day by day. However, 3D printing has been playing an important role in some industrial sectors and a detrimental or neutral role in some other industrial areas. Even though, fostering innovations in the technologies of additive manufacturing is not easy, the updates have already started. While studying the progress of 3D printing, the report will also compare this technology with the traditional technologies (CNC working).