ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the disadvantages and possible outcomes of using additive manufacturing (AM) as a large-scale production approach for long-term growth. In AM, components are built by stratification using a powder-based raw material, enabling the construction of intricate, complicated designs that are difficult to create using other methods yet require more energy. Another issue that has been brought up is the process’s ability to produce indoor pollutants. The complexity or level of customisation of a product has no impact on its price. Surplus components and the waste they produce are effectively avoided with AM. Additive manufacturing (AM), which eliminates the need for vast transportation and storage networks and reduces long queues, facilitates on-demand manufacturing, and saves CO2 emissions by about 50% when compared to conventional methods. The waste products produced by traditional manufacturing techniques contribute up to 20% of annual production, $8 trillion in global garbage, and 10% of world GDP. Even imprecise models can be converted into raw materials for later recycling. Also, this chapter offers a hybrid method for protecting sculptures made with AM technology by combining terracotta and steel slag.
