Article of 23 August 2013
If media reports about the future of additive manufacturing are to be believed, we'll all soon be designing our own coffee cups, glasses frames and trouser buttons and printing them using a 3D printer. Although additive manufacturing is still rarely employed for private use, it has been applied for many years in industry for the manufacture of prototypes or components in small batches. Its advantage lies in the fact that parts can be produced quickly, without tools and with no wastage, saving both time and money. Typical materials include plastics or metals, such as tool or stainless steel alloys or aluminium.