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Current Technologies
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Stereolithography—(SL or SLA) is a rapid prototyping process that produces a physical, three dimensional object. These objects are always produced using a computer solid model, for example, a 3D CAD file or Master Model. The model can also be used for master patterns for metal castings (“What is Stereolithography?,” n.d.). Printing can be fairly slow. Depending on the size and number of objects being
created, the laser might take a minute or two for each layer. A typical run might take
six to 12 hours. Runs over several days are possible for large objects (maximum size
for the machine shown above is an object 10 inches (25 cm) in three dimensions)
(Brain, 2012).
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Direct digital manufacturing, also called additive, rapid, direct, instant, or ondemand manufacturing—“Building parts out of plastic or metal one layer at a time
using a method of additive fabrication such as 3D printing. Multiple pieces, either
similar or dissimilar, can be built simultaneously. Rapid manufacturing evolved from
some of the technologies used to build prototypes” (“Definition of: rapid
manufacturing,” 2012).
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Additive manufacturing (AM)— AM starts with raw material, generally in sheet, liquid, filament or powder form. It uses a 3D CAD model for a pattern, and the AM machine builds parts up layer by layer to create a physical solid (Waterman, 2010). 130