3D Printing Technologies: Process, Materials, Advantages, Disadvantages and Application

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, involves transforming a digital model into a physical 3D object by depositing layers of material on top of each other. The rapid popularity of 3D printing is due to its ability to make manufacturing accessible to a wide range of people. Actually, the primary purpose for creating it was just to speed up the process of developing new products through rapid prototyping. Numerous 3D printing processes and technologies have been created since the start of 3D printing. In the past, printers were big and costly in their capabilities, but now numerous 3D manufacturing methods are increasingly accessible. Various 3D printing techniques involve manipulating materials through heating or rendering them pliable to form layers. Some of these methods include fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser melting (SLM) and selective laser sintering (SLS). Alternatively, there are methods that employ liquid substances and different technologies, such as laminated object manufacturing (LOM) and stereolithography (SLA). This paper outlines the commonly utilized 3D printing technologies and their manufacturing procedures, along with a summary of the materials, advantages and disadvantages, and the respective applications.