Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a process of creating a three-dimensional object from a digital file. AM works by adding material layer by layer until the object is complete. AM is often used to create prototypes, models, and other small objects.

Subtractive Manufacturing

Subtractive manufacturing (SM), also known as traditional manufacturing, is a process of creating a three-dimensional object by removing material from a block of material. SM is often used to create large, complex objects such as car parts and aircraft engines.

Key Differences

The key differences between AM and SM are as follows:

1. Material addition: AM adds material to create an object, while SM removes material to create an object.
2. Complexity: AM can create more complex objects than SM.
3. Speed: SM is generally faster than AM.
4. Cost: AM is generally more expensive than SM.