An overview of additive manufacturing technology: generic processes, fundamental categories, advantages, disadvantages, and applications

Abstract

Many industries, such as automotive, aerospace, healthcare, education, and art, have already embraced additive manufacturing technology for its power of customization, product weight reduction, waste minimization, and capacity to cope with sophisticatedly designed components. For these reasons, it may be speculated that additive manufacturing technology may have an extensive influence on the next industrial revolution. Understanding additive manufacturing seems to be essential for this contemporary era. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to present an overview of additive manufacturing technology: general additive manufacturing steps, additive manufacturing categories, advantages, disadvantages, and applications.