3D and Additive Manufacturing – What is the Difference?

While additive manufacturing and 3D printing are often used interchangeably, they have distinct differences that are important to understand when selecting the best approach for your project. Both methods create three-dimensional parts and prototypes, but they can employ different processes to achieve this.

 Understanding 3D printing

In 3D printing, material layers are added to a build chamber based on instructions from CAD software. While the process traditionally uses polymers and plastics, advancements in technology now allow for the use of metals through methods like direct metal laser sintering (DMLS).

3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing because the process adds material to build a part one layer at a time. However, it is more versatile than other additive manufacturing methods like direct energy deposition and sheet lamination, especially in building parts with complex shapes or geometries. Additionally, additive manufacturing with 3D printing delivers high-quality and precise parts fast and cost-effectively.

 Why use additive manufacturing?

3D printing and other additive manufacturing methods make it easier to evaluate the prototype's precision, dimension, ergonomics, and features. As such, these are valuable to industries that value the relationship between timing and quality during production. Additionally, additive manufacturing ensures the highest level of reliability and precision without compromising on flexibility. That means modifications are possible at any stage of the product development process.

Understanding the difference 

The main difference between additive manufacturing and 3D printing is the broadness of their technologies. The former is a broader concept that includes more processes, including 3D printing. Moreover, it’s worth knowing that additive manufacturing is often associated with commercial and industrial uses, while 3D printing is often used in recreational and consumer applications.

We have all the best additive manufacturing technologies.

No matter the application, we have all the best additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies here at HLH Proto. Connect with us now for a free project review, and we’ll help you decide which process is right for you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Art of Die-Casting: What Sets It Apart

If you require metal parts or prototypes in larger quantities, there are affordable manufacturing options that can decrease your production time and provide precise outcomes. Die-casting services are a great choice, particularly when you need parts manufactured from magnesium, zinc, or aluminum. You may be wondering: What distinguishes it from other manufacturing services like direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), injection molding, or CNC machining? Continue reading to learn about the process and its advantages.     How die casting works   Die casting follows a similar process to injection molding, but this time, for metals. That means a custom mold will be made based on your part’s design, and it will be installed on the die-casting press. When it’s ready, molten material will be injected at high pressure into the tool cavity. The finished parts can be further processed and finished by anodizing, powder coating, and other ways to meet your requirements. ...
Read more

What is SLS 3D printing?

Image
  SLS stands for Selective Laser Sintering, which is a 3D printing method where a polymer or thermoplastic powder is sintered by pointing a laser that transforms the powder into a solid plastic piece. This process is part of the group of Powder Bed Fusion technologies, and it achieves the fusion of the material by layers that represent cross sections of the model built in the CAD/CAM software. Although the explanation above seems to be describing a newly developed technology, the truth is that SLS 3D printing is one of the oldest additive manufacturing methods, first developed in the 80s by doctors Carl Deckard and Joe Beaman at the University of Texas at Austin. As with other 3D printing processes, it all begins with a 3D CAD model that is processed by the software of the printer to generate the layers that will be printed. After that, the SLS 3D printing process takes the following steps: 1.The platform where the piece is printed is located inside a chamber known as the powder bi...
Read more

How to Enhance Your Manufacturing Capabilities with 3D Printing and CNC Machining

Additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) has revolutionized the prototyping and production of end-use parts and assemblies. However, despite this innovation, traditional manufacturing technologies remain invaluable. At HLH Proto, we often blend cutting-edge and time-tested methods such as additive and CNC printing to achieve the best results. This combination proves superior for certain projects and enhances overall manufacturing capabilities. Let us explain how integrating these solutions can elevate your production process:   Faster results Although you can make prototypes from CAD files in injection molding, 3D printing offers creative flexibility to improve designs along the way. Engineers and designers leverage these processes with CAM or CAD files for additive manufacturing. After improving their design with  additive printing , they can apply machining to enhance the part.   Save money   Manufacturing companies want to cut production costs,...
Read more