3D printing

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, makes it easy to create patterns without the STL data format. Raw materials such as moulding waxes or thermoplastics are used. The processes include liquid-material, free-space, powder-bed and sheet-lamination processes, which produce individual parts directly from 3D data models. The single-stage nature is advantageous, but long cycle times and high costs are disadvantageous.