Is there a difference between 3D printing and additive manufacturing?











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Is there a difference between 3D printing and additive manufacturing if any then explain?










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    Is there a difference between 3D printing and additive manufacturing if any then explain?










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      Is there a difference between 3D printing and additive manufacturing if any then explain?










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      Is there a difference between 3D printing and additive manufacturing if any then explain?







      printer-building terminology






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      edited Nov 19 at 17:27









      Trish

      3,690635




      3,690635










      asked Nov 19 at 9:28









      RashkRizwan

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          I see several answers to that.



          A lot of persons say 3d printing while they really mean additive manufacturing. For them, the machine got a 3d part out of raw material as a 2d printer got them images out of sheets.



          Some persons think that 3d printing refers to lowpriced polymers additive manufacturing machines while additive manufacturing refers to industrial, expansive equipment like the so-called "DMLS"or "SLM".



          Others persons say that additive manufacturing processes that use 2d-printers heads (ink injectors, such as HP additive manufacturing machines) should be called 3d printers and 3d printing because it's so similar to 2d printers.



          I consider that "3d printer" should be avoided in general, because it is way too vague and referring to way too much different things. But it is up to anyone using these words, I just think that a serious person wouldn't use "3d printer" given all the mismatch that it could generate. I think we should use the exact process' name instead (like FDM for low-priced additive manufacturing polymer machines), or if you refer to the overall technology, use additive manufacturing.






          share|improve this answer




























            up vote
            6
            down vote













            Yes and No at the same time:



            3D Printing is a subset of Additive Manufacturing



            but treated as a synonym at this time



            3D printing is a process that takes some material, in a fluid state that fuses with the model to shape an object from it. The material could be plastics, ceramic paste or even metal. The fluid state could be the normal state, or just be present for the fusing process (think powder and resin based systems), or be a transitional phase (as in filament based systems).



            Additive manufacturing is just a slight bit bigger: at the moment most, if not all, AM processes are some sort of 3D printing. But AM could include other processes that don't fit 3D printing. For example, an automatic bricklaying machine could, under some view, be Additive Manufacturing, but it is not 3D printing in the traditional sense.



            So: All 3D Printing is Additive Manufacturing, but not all Additive Manufacturing is necessarily 3D Printing.






            share|improve this answer























            • I would think automated welding could be considered AM, yet is not 3D Printing.
              – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
              Nov 19 at 17:34










            • @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 under some ways, yes. There are welding-robots that do pretty much "print" (So AM or even 3D printing) but most automatic welder arms just join parts, which is not in the definition of 3D printing but falls under "Automated Assembly". And somethies... the tred bring forth "Atomated Manufacturing" like youtube.com/watch?v=odGEzRRDfxo
              – Trish
              Nov 19 at 17:36




















            up vote
            3
            down vote













            Origin



            3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM) both refer to a range of processes where, opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies, materials are joined to create products. E.g. FFF, SLS, etc.



            From this reference you see a reference to 3D printing:




            Additive manufacturing is the official industry standard term (ASTM
            F2792) for all applications of the technology. It is defined as the
            process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data,
            usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing
            methodologies.




            From e.g. this reference one reads that there is no difference:




            Between the terms 3D printing and additive manufacturing, there is no
            difference. 3D printing and additive manufacturing are synonyms for
            the same process.




            Useage now



            However, as the AM processes and applications grew in time, 3D printing has become a subset of AM. As worded by Peter Zelinski in August 2017:




            To be sure, the terms overlap. They can be used in ways that make them
            sound like synonyms. But the relationship between them and the
            difference between them is this: 3D printing is the operation at the
            heart of additive manufacturing
            , just as “turning” or “molding” might
            be the operation at the heart of a conventional manufacturing process.
            In short, additive manufacturing requires and includes 3D printing,
            but it also entails more than 3D printing, and it refers to something
            more rigorous
            .







            share|improve this answer























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              3 Answers
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              3 Answers
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              up vote
              0
              down vote



              accepted










              I see several answers to that.



              A lot of persons say 3d printing while they really mean additive manufacturing. For them, the machine got a 3d part out of raw material as a 2d printer got them images out of sheets.



              Some persons think that 3d printing refers to lowpriced polymers additive manufacturing machines while additive manufacturing refers to industrial, expansive equipment like the so-called "DMLS"or "SLM".



              Others persons say that additive manufacturing processes that use 2d-printers heads (ink injectors, such as HP additive manufacturing machines) should be called 3d printers and 3d printing because it's so similar to 2d printers.



              I consider that "3d printer" should be avoided in general, because it is way too vague and referring to way too much different things. But it is up to anyone using these words, I just think that a serious person wouldn't use "3d printer" given all the mismatch that it could generate. I think we should use the exact process' name instead (like FDM for low-priced additive manufacturing polymer machines), or if you refer to the overall technology, use additive manufacturing.






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                0
                down vote



                accepted










                I see several answers to that.



                A lot of persons say 3d printing while they really mean additive manufacturing. For them, the machine got a 3d part out of raw material as a 2d printer got them images out of sheets.



                Some persons think that 3d printing refers to lowpriced polymers additive manufacturing machines while additive manufacturing refers to industrial, expansive equipment like the so-called "DMLS"or "SLM".



                Others persons say that additive manufacturing processes that use 2d-printers heads (ink injectors, such as HP additive manufacturing machines) should be called 3d printers and 3d printing because it's so similar to 2d printers.



                I consider that "3d printer" should be avoided in general, because it is way too vague and referring to way too much different things. But it is up to anyone using these words, I just think that a serious person wouldn't use "3d printer" given all the mismatch that it could generate. I think we should use the exact process' name instead (like FDM for low-priced additive manufacturing polymer machines), or if you refer to the overall technology, use additive manufacturing.






                share|improve this answer























                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote



                  accepted







                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote



                  accepted






                  I see several answers to that.



                  A lot of persons say 3d printing while they really mean additive manufacturing. For them, the machine got a 3d part out of raw material as a 2d printer got them images out of sheets.



                  Some persons think that 3d printing refers to lowpriced polymers additive manufacturing machines while additive manufacturing refers to industrial, expansive equipment like the so-called "DMLS"or "SLM".



                  Others persons say that additive manufacturing processes that use 2d-printers heads (ink injectors, such as HP additive manufacturing machines) should be called 3d printers and 3d printing because it's so similar to 2d printers.



                  I consider that "3d printer" should be avoided in general, because it is way too vague and referring to way too much different things. But it is up to anyone using these words, I just think that a serious person wouldn't use "3d printer" given all the mismatch that it could generate. I think we should use the exact process' name instead (like FDM for low-priced additive manufacturing polymer machines), or if you refer to the overall technology, use additive manufacturing.






                  share|improve this answer












                  I see several answers to that.



                  A lot of persons say 3d printing while they really mean additive manufacturing. For them, the machine got a 3d part out of raw material as a 2d printer got them images out of sheets.



                  Some persons think that 3d printing refers to lowpriced polymers additive manufacturing machines while additive manufacturing refers to industrial, expansive equipment like the so-called "DMLS"or "SLM".



                  Others persons say that additive manufacturing processes that use 2d-printers heads (ink injectors, such as HP additive manufacturing machines) should be called 3d printers and 3d printing because it's so similar to 2d printers.



                  I consider that "3d printer" should be avoided in general, because it is way too vague and referring to way too much different things. But it is up to anyone using these words, I just think that a serious person wouldn't use "3d printer" given all the mismatch that it could generate. I think we should use the exact process' name instead (like FDM for low-priced additive manufacturing polymer machines), or if you refer to the overall technology, use additive manufacturing.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Nov 29 at 21:46









                  42Z0GqNNz

                  766




                  766






















                      up vote
                      6
                      down vote













                      Yes and No at the same time:



                      3D Printing is a subset of Additive Manufacturing



                      but treated as a synonym at this time



                      3D printing is a process that takes some material, in a fluid state that fuses with the model to shape an object from it. The material could be plastics, ceramic paste or even metal. The fluid state could be the normal state, or just be present for the fusing process (think powder and resin based systems), or be a transitional phase (as in filament based systems).



                      Additive manufacturing is just a slight bit bigger: at the moment most, if not all, AM processes are some sort of 3D printing. But AM could include other processes that don't fit 3D printing. For example, an automatic bricklaying machine could, under some view, be Additive Manufacturing, but it is not 3D printing in the traditional sense.



                      So: All 3D Printing is Additive Manufacturing, but not all Additive Manufacturing is necessarily 3D Printing.






                      share|improve this answer























                      • I would think automated welding could be considered AM, yet is not 3D Printing.
                        – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
                        Nov 19 at 17:34










                      • @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 under some ways, yes. There are welding-robots that do pretty much "print" (So AM or even 3D printing) but most automatic welder arms just join parts, which is not in the definition of 3D printing but falls under "Automated Assembly". And somethies... the tred bring forth "Atomated Manufacturing" like youtube.com/watch?v=odGEzRRDfxo
                        – Trish
                        Nov 19 at 17:36

















                      up vote
                      6
                      down vote













                      Yes and No at the same time:



                      3D Printing is a subset of Additive Manufacturing



                      but treated as a synonym at this time



                      3D printing is a process that takes some material, in a fluid state that fuses with the model to shape an object from it. The material could be plastics, ceramic paste or even metal. The fluid state could be the normal state, or just be present for the fusing process (think powder and resin based systems), or be a transitional phase (as in filament based systems).



                      Additive manufacturing is just a slight bit bigger: at the moment most, if not all, AM processes are some sort of 3D printing. But AM could include other processes that don't fit 3D printing. For example, an automatic bricklaying machine could, under some view, be Additive Manufacturing, but it is not 3D printing in the traditional sense.



                      So: All 3D Printing is Additive Manufacturing, but not all Additive Manufacturing is necessarily 3D Printing.






                      share|improve this answer























                      • I would think automated welding could be considered AM, yet is not 3D Printing.
                        – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
                        Nov 19 at 17:34










                      • @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 under some ways, yes. There are welding-robots that do pretty much "print" (So AM or even 3D printing) but most automatic welder arms just join parts, which is not in the definition of 3D printing but falls under "Automated Assembly". And somethies... the tred bring forth "Atomated Manufacturing" like youtube.com/watch?v=odGEzRRDfxo
                        – Trish
                        Nov 19 at 17:36















                      up vote
                      6
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      6
                      down vote









                      Yes and No at the same time:



                      3D Printing is a subset of Additive Manufacturing



                      but treated as a synonym at this time



                      3D printing is a process that takes some material, in a fluid state that fuses with the model to shape an object from it. The material could be plastics, ceramic paste or even metal. The fluid state could be the normal state, or just be present for the fusing process (think powder and resin based systems), or be a transitional phase (as in filament based systems).



                      Additive manufacturing is just a slight bit bigger: at the moment most, if not all, AM processes are some sort of 3D printing. But AM could include other processes that don't fit 3D printing. For example, an automatic bricklaying machine could, under some view, be Additive Manufacturing, but it is not 3D printing in the traditional sense.



                      So: All 3D Printing is Additive Manufacturing, but not all Additive Manufacturing is necessarily 3D Printing.






                      share|improve this answer














                      Yes and No at the same time:



                      3D Printing is a subset of Additive Manufacturing



                      but treated as a synonym at this time



                      3D printing is a process that takes some material, in a fluid state that fuses with the model to shape an object from it. The material could be plastics, ceramic paste or even metal. The fluid state could be the normal state, or just be present for the fusing process (think powder and resin based systems), or be a transitional phase (as in filament based systems).



                      Additive manufacturing is just a slight bit bigger: at the moment most, if not all, AM processes are some sort of 3D printing. But AM could include other processes that don't fit 3D printing. For example, an automatic bricklaying machine could, under some view, be Additive Manufacturing, but it is not 3D printing in the traditional sense.



                      So: All 3D Printing is Additive Manufacturing, but not all Additive Manufacturing is necessarily 3D Printing.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited Nov 19 at 17:29

























                      answered Nov 19 at 10:51









                      Trish

                      3,690635




                      3,690635












                      • I would think automated welding could be considered AM, yet is not 3D Printing.
                        – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
                        Nov 19 at 17:34










                      • @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 under some ways, yes. There are welding-robots that do pretty much "print" (So AM or even 3D printing) but most automatic welder arms just join parts, which is not in the definition of 3D printing but falls under "Automated Assembly". And somethies... the tred bring forth "Atomated Manufacturing" like youtube.com/watch?v=odGEzRRDfxo
                        – Trish
                        Nov 19 at 17:36




















                      • I would think automated welding could be considered AM, yet is not 3D Printing.
                        – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
                        Nov 19 at 17:34










                      • @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 under some ways, yes. There are welding-robots that do pretty much "print" (So AM or even 3D printing) but most automatic welder arms just join parts, which is not in the definition of 3D printing but falls under "Automated Assembly". And somethies... the tred bring forth "Atomated Manufacturing" like youtube.com/watch?v=odGEzRRDfxo
                        – Trish
                        Nov 19 at 17:36


















                      I would think automated welding could be considered AM, yet is not 3D Printing.
                      – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
                      Nov 19 at 17:34




                      I would think automated welding could be considered AM, yet is not 3D Printing.
                      – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
                      Nov 19 at 17:34












                      @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 under some ways, yes. There are welding-robots that do pretty much "print" (So AM or even 3D printing) but most automatic welder arms just join parts, which is not in the definition of 3D printing but falls under "Automated Assembly". And somethies... the tred bring forth "Atomated Manufacturing" like youtube.com/watch?v=odGEzRRDfxo
                      – Trish
                      Nov 19 at 17:36






                      @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 under some ways, yes. There are welding-robots that do pretty much "print" (So AM or even 3D printing) but most automatic welder arms just join parts, which is not in the definition of 3D printing but falls under "Automated Assembly". And somethies... the tred bring forth "Atomated Manufacturing" like youtube.com/watch?v=odGEzRRDfxo
                      – Trish
                      Nov 19 at 17:36












                      up vote
                      3
                      down vote













                      Origin



                      3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM) both refer to a range of processes where, opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies, materials are joined to create products. E.g. FFF, SLS, etc.



                      From this reference you see a reference to 3D printing:




                      Additive manufacturing is the official industry standard term (ASTM
                      F2792) for all applications of the technology. It is defined as the
                      process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data,
                      usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing
                      methodologies.




                      From e.g. this reference one reads that there is no difference:




                      Between the terms 3D printing and additive manufacturing, there is no
                      difference. 3D printing and additive manufacturing are synonyms for
                      the same process.




                      Useage now



                      However, as the AM processes and applications grew in time, 3D printing has become a subset of AM. As worded by Peter Zelinski in August 2017:




                      To be sure, the terms overlap. They can be used in ways that make them
                      sound like synonyms. But the relationship between them and the
                      difference between them is this: 3D printing is the operation at the
                      heart of additive manufacturing
                      , just as “turning” or “molding” might
                      be the operation at the heart of a conventional manufacturing process.
                      In short, additive manufacturing requires and includes 3D printing,
                      but it also entails more than 3D printing, and it refers to something
                      more rigorous
                      .







                      share|improve this answer



























                        up vote
                        3
                        down vote













                        Origin



                        3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM) both refer to a range of processes where, opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies, materials are joined to create products. E.g. FFF, SLS, etc.



                        From this reference you see a reference to 3D printing:




                        Additive manufacturing is the official industry standard term (ASTM
                        F2792) for all applications of the technology. It is defined as the
                        process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data,
                        usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing
                        methodologies.




                        From e.g. this reference one reads that there is no difference:




                        Between the terms 3D printing and additive manufacturing, there is no
                        difference. 3D printing and additive manufacturing are synonyms for
                        the same process.




                        Useage now



                        However, as the AM processes and applications grew in time, 3D printing has become a subset of AM. As worded by Peter Zelinski in August 2017:




                        To be sure, the terms overlap. They can be used in ways that make them
                        sound like synonyms. But the relationship between them and the
                        difference between them is this: 3D printing is the operation at the
                        heart of additive manufacturing
                        , just as “turning” or “molding” might
                        be the operation at the heart of a conventional manufacturing process.
                        In short, additive manufacturing requires and includes 3D printing,
                        but it also entails more than 3D printing, and it refers to something
                        more rigorous
                        .







                        share|improve this answer

























                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote









                          Origin



                          3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM) both refer to a range of processes where, opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies, materials are joined to create products. E.g. FFF, SLS, etc.



                          From this reference you see a reference to 3D printing:




                          Additive manufacturing is the official industry standard term (ASTM
                          F2792) for all applications of the technology. It is defined as the
                          process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data,
                          usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing
                          methodologies.




                          From e.g. this reference one reads that there is no difference:




                          Between the terms 3D printing and additive manufacturing, there is no
                          difference. 3D printing and additive manufacturing are synonyms for
                          the same process.




                          Useage now



                          However, as the AM processes and applications grew in time, 3D printing has become a subset of AM. As worded by Peter Zelinski in August 2017:




                          To be sure, the terms overlap. They can be used in ways that make them
                          sound like synonyms. But the relationship between them and the
                          difference between them is this: 3D printing is the operation at the
                          heart of additive manufacturing
                          , just as “turning” or “molding” might
                          be the operation at the heart of a conventional manufacturing process.
                          In short, additive manufacturing requires and includes 3D printing,
                          but it also entails more than 3D printing, and it refers to something
                          more rigorous
                          .







                          share|improve this answer














                          Origin



                          3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM) both refer to a range of processes where, opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies, materials are joined to create products. E.g. FFF, SLS, etc.



                          From this reference you see a reference to 3D printing:




                          Additive manufacturing is the official industry standard term (ASTM
                          F2792) for all applications of the technology. It is defined as the
                          process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data,
                          usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing
                          methodologies.




                          From e.g. this reference one reads that there is no difference:




                          Between the terms 3D printing and additive manufacturing, there is no
                          difference. 3D printing and additive manufacturing are synonyms for
                          the same process.




                          Useage now



                          However, as the AM processes and applications grew in time, 3D printing has become a subset of AM. As worded by Peter Zelinski in August 2017:




                          To be sure, the terms overlap. They can be used in ways that make them
                          sound like synonyms. But the relationship between them and the
                          difference between them is this: 3D printing is the operation at the
                          heart of additive manufacturing
                          , just as “turning” or “molding” might
                          be the operation at the heart of a conventional manufacturing process.
                          In short, additive manufacturing requires and includes 3D printing,
                          but it also entails more than 3D printing, and it refers to something
                          more rigorous
                          .








                          share|improve this answer














                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer








                          edited Nov 29 at 21:56

























                          answered Nov 19 at 10:42









                          0scar

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