Environment and Safety Impacts of Additive Manufacturing: A Review

Abstract

The paper is focused on additive manufacturing (AM) which is the process of producing objects from a three-dimensional (3D) model by joining materials layer by layer, as opposed to the subtractive manufacturing methodologies [1], directly from raw material in powder, liquid, sheet, or a filament form without the need for moulds, tools, or dies. The article demonstrates potential environmental implications of additive manufacturing related to the key issues including energy use, occupational health, waste and lifecycle impact. AM provides a cost-effective and time-efficient way to fabricating products with complicated geometries, advanced material properties and functionality. Based on this review, we identified that additive manufacturing will have a significant societal impact in the near future. A critical technical review of the promises and potential issues of AM is beneficial for advancing its further development.