ABSTRACT
Today's three-dimensional (3D) printing is rooted in the rapid prototyping technologies introduced in the early 1980s but has matured from the original form and fit uses to functional components and systems. Enabling the fabrication of otherwise unmanufacturable designs with optimized topologies or multifunctionality and incorporating the spectrum of materials including polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites, modern 3D printing is the foundation of a new era of manufacturing. This chapter provides an overview of 3D printing techniques, the current state of materials that can printed using these techniques, the design space enabled by 3D printing, topological optimization, and 4D multifunctionality. Also discussed are postprocessing techniques and their relevance to 3D printing. Quality control and verification, process control and optimization, and process and product qualification are not discussed in this chapter. A number of references are provided to help the reader dive deeper into areas where more in-depth material is desired.
