Digital additive manufacturing: From rapid prototyping to rapid manufacturing

Abstract

The emergence of stereolithography in 1998 is a milestone for an entirely new class of layer-based manufacturing processes. This new manufacturing approach which allows direct digital manufacturing from CAD to a physical part, is the most flexible and versatile form of fabrication process. This paper provides an overview on the development of digital additive manufacturing processes, commonly known as rapid prototyping processes, and chart its progress and challenges towards the ultimate goal of rapid manufacturing with supporting case examples.