Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Processing Technologies
In the field of AM there are several different production techniques and also a range of
different materials. The ASTM Committee F42 on Additive Manufacturing Technologies
defines the following AM processes:
Material extrusion
: an additive manufacturing process in which material is selectively dis-
pensed through a nozzle or orifice.
Material jetting
: An additive manufacturing process in which droplets of build material are
selectively deposited.
Binder jetting
: An additive manufacturing process in which a liquid bonding agent is se-
lectively deposited to join powder materials.
Sheet lamination
: An additive manufacturing process in which sheets of material are bon-
ded to form an object.
Vat photopolymerization
: An additive manufacturing process in which liquid photopoly-
mer in a vat is selectively cured by light-activated polymerization.
Powder bed fusion
: An additive manufacturing process in which thermal energy selectively
fuses regions of a powder bed.
Directed energy deposition
: An additive manufacturing process in which focused thermal
energy is used to fuse materials by melting as the material is being deposited.
Preceding the announcement of the above categorization in 2012, there was a plethora of
terms often defined by the inventor or company behind the technology. Many of these terms
are still more commonly used than the above ASTM Committee 42 definition. Some of the
most significant of these terms follow below:
Stereolithography (SL or SLA):
(Vat photopolymerization) SLA is the first original 3D
printing/AM technique. It was invented in 1986 by Charles Hull who also founded one of
the two leading companies in the 3D printing industry: 3D Systems.
