Manufacturing Through Ages

Abstract

Manufacturing is integrally linked with the development of civilization. Some of the important manufacturing processes are machining, metal forming, casting, joining, powder metallurgy, and 3D printing. Power-driven machines for manufacturing became common since the first Industrial Revolution. In the nineteenth century, attempts were made to understand the physics of manufacturing processes. The predictive formulae for some of the processes were also developed. In the twentieth century, particularly in the second half of it, various advanced manufacturing processes were developed; notable among them are the laser-based manufacturing processes. In the twenty-first century, 3D printing technology has gained importance and is being further developed through continued research efforts. In the near future, mechanical engineers are expected to contribute a lot in developing green and sustainable manufacturing technologies.