AN OVERVIEW OF 3D PRINTING

Abstract

Since the Industrial revolution machine tools, economies of scale, production line and factories have been synonymous to manufacturing.  3D printing is a widely used technology also known as an additive manufacturing process to minimize energy and materials to accelerate innovation. It has been more than 35 years since the invention of 3D printing, currently; individual 3D printers are available in the smaller size and at economical cost. In USA 3D printing technology has emerged and is been used in the automotive sector widely. 3D printing has become more and more attractive in recent years. The idea of machinery that can print items much like a paper-based inkjet printer has encouraged manufacturers to declare 3D printing to be "the next industrial revolution.” Other analysts responded with scepticism and pointed to the current limitations of technology as well as to relatively low adoption rates. 3D printing or ‘additive manufacturing' as it is called, could become the world's biggest disruptive technology. Paper will discuss about the growth of 3D printing worldwide, different types of methods known to the engineers, its implications in manufacturing and detailed working of 3D printing. Engineers have managed to develop new software to aid in 3D manufacturing which also has been discussed below.