ABSTRACT
Initially technologies to create three-dimensional (3D) components from computer-aided design (CAD) les were termed rapid prototyping technologies as these were primarily used to create prototypes of the parts with different materials, primarily plastics. However, there has been a paradigm shift from prototyping to direct manufacturing/production of 3D components, and therefore, these technologies have improved over the last few decades and are now being called additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. Currently, the output of AM technologies includes up to 20% nal products and is estimated to increase to 50% by 2020 (The Economist 2011). While the invention of technologies is being argued to be a Third Industrial Revolution (The Economist 2012), huge investment and development efforts are required to fully realize their potential (Reeves and Hague 2013). The unique benets of these agile manufacturing technologies include rapid production of components with efcient utilization of available resources, reverse engineering to develop
CONTENTS
3.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................65 3.2 Current Technologies .......................................................................................................... 67
3.2.1 Powder Deposition-Based Techniques ................................................................. 67 3.2.2 Wire Deposition-Based Processes .........................................................................72
