Additive Manufacturing (AM)

Additive manufacturing builds a physical part directly from a 3D CAD model by adding material layer by layer, instead of removing it. It is commonly called 3D printing.

AM vs conventional manufacturing

Point	Additive	Conventional (subtractive / formative)
Principle	Adds material layer by layer	Removes (machining) or shapes (casting, forging) material
Material waste	Very low	High in machining
Complex geometry	Easy, internal channels possible	Difficult or impossible
Tooling	No special tools, dies or moulds	Tools, dies, fixtures needed
Lead time	Short for prototypes and one-offs	Long set-up time
Customization	Easy, cost does not rise	Costly
Production volume	Best for low volume	Best for mass production
Surface finish	Often needs post-processing	Generally better
Material range	Limited	Very wide

Advantages of AM

Rapid prototyping, design freedom, customization (e.g. patient-specific implants), less waste, part consolidation.

Exam tip

Define AM, show the process flow and write at least 6 rows in the comparison table.