ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. It reviews the existing AM techniques, including powder-bed and flow-based methods. The use of powder is more favorable than the use of wire or sheet, and this is due to the possibility of fabricating parts with small size and high geometrical accuracy. The chapter further describes support technologies such as software systems. AM technology is a multidisciplinary task that takes advantage of a variety of technology sectors, such as computer technology. In AM techniques, most CAD software slice the CAD model directly and transfer the resultant contours to the Rapid Prototyping (RP) process. The chapter also discusses postmanufacturing processing. This includes support removal techniques, surface improvement methodologies, aesthetic improvement methods, and property enhancement techniques. Postprocessing plays an important role in price marketing, and therefore, competitive companies may neglect postprocessing to reduce the costs. In AM techniques, support removal is a crucial step.
