What Is Additive Manufacturing? General FAQs from AddUp
New to metal 3D printing? This page answers foundational questions about additive manufacturing processes, terminology, and how AddUp’s industrial approach fits into modern production strategies.
What is metal additive manufacturing?
The terms additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing are umbrella terms (commonly used interchangeably) to cover a set of processes that produce a 3D object by adding material layer by layer from a CAD model or digital file. Materials for 3D printing/additive manufacturing can range from polymer to metal, ceramic, concrete, and more.
AddUp focuses on metal additive manufacturing (AM), including Powder Bed Fusion and Directed Energy Deposition technologies. Our machines build metal parts layer by layer using laser-based fusion of metal powder.
How does additive manufacturing differ from traditional manufacturing?
Additive manufacturing is a retronym of subtractive manufacturing/machining.
Unlike subtractive manufacturing (ex. CNC machining) that removes material from a block, AM builds up parts layer by layer, reducing waste and enabling more complex geometries.
Many manufacturers are finding success in combining the two methods. For instance, additive manufacturing can be used to create highly complex, customized parts, while traditional methods like CNC machining can refine those parts for precision and surface finish. Hybrid workflows take advantage of AM’s design flexibility and traditional manufacturing’s scalability.
- Additive Manufacturing: Ideal for low-volume production, customization, rapid prototyping, and designs with complex geometries that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive using traditional methods.
- Traditional Manufacturing: Excels in high-volume production, consistent repeatability, and creating parts from materials not yet optimized for additive processes.
Additive is not one-size-fits-all solution; the choice to get into additive should depend on your project’s scale and requirements.
What are the main types of additive manufacturing?
Some of the most used additive manufacturing technologies include:
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- Powder Bed Fusion (ex. SLS, SLM, EBM)
- Material Extrusion (ex. FDM)
- Vat Photopolymerization (ex. SLA, DLP)
- Binder Jetting
- Directed Energy Deposition (DED)
- Material Jetting
AddUp currently focuses on Metal Powder Bed Fusion and Directed Energy Deposition technologies.
What is PBF?
Laser Power Bed Fusion (L-PBF) is a metal Additive Manufacturing process that allows the production of high-precision parts with very high mechanical properties.
Metal parts are manufactured from a digital file, made by superimposing horizontal layers of metal powder on a plate with a spreading device (roller, scraper, or brush). A laser then solidifies the powder where directed.
The platform drops down, and a new layer of powder is spread on the platform, building the part in sequence of spreading and fusion cycles until completion.
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What is DED?
Directed Energy Deposition (DED) is an Additive Manufacturing process in which focused thermal energy is used to fuse materials by melting them as they are deposited.
Metal parts are manufactured from a digital file. The process creates a melt pool on a substrate with the help of an energy source (laser beam, plasma, or electric arc). The melt pool is fed with a filler material, dispensing powder, or metallic wire. The material is delivered through a deposition nozzle and crosses the energy beam to reach the required melting temperature.
AddUp’s DED machines utilize ISO G-code and CNC controls for continuous 5 axes of freedom.
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What industries benefit from metal additive manufacturing solutions?
Additive manufacturing is used in many industries and is the most prevalent in:
- Aerospace
- Medical & Dental
- Energy
- Automotive
- Tooling
- Defense
Learn what industries are doing with Additive
How does metal additive manufacturing reduce manufacturing costs and time-to-market?
By eliminating the need for tooling, reducing assembly steps, and enabling rapid prototyping, AM accelerates development cycles and lowers production costs.
Learn how
What are the best industrial 3D printers for metal additive manufacturing?
The best industrial 3D printer is the one that fits your specific needs. AddUp’s FormUp series is one of the leading solutions for industrial metal AM, offering best-in-class surface finish, high precision, scalability, and safety.
Talk with our team to determine if our machines are right for you
