Subtractive or Traditional Manufacturing

In the traditional method of manufacturing, one has to take a big piece of metal which goes through CNC machines or cutters to give it the requisite shape and dimension. This is substractive method because it consists of subtracting from a big piece and even welding it in case of a complex design. This affects durability and restricts the ability to implement complex designs.

Additive or 3-D Printing Manufacturing

The machine adds layer after layer, using metal powder through laser or electron beam, which is connected to the digital model of a component, to give the product the requisite shape.

If the design is not complicated, the traditional method is economical. If sophistication is added to the design, there comes an inflection point when additive is more economical.

3 D printing is also called Additive Manufacturing. Here a 3D object is assembled ( printed ) layer by layer, where each layer is like a thinly sliced cross-section of the object being made. The energy source used could be a laser or electron beam. The materials could be metal, polymer or resin. In a regulated environment, a 3D design is converted into an object one micro-layer at a time.

Traditional manufacturing is subtractive manufacturing. Here a piece of metal is cut hollow or polymer is cut.

3D printing is suitable for mass customisation. We can experiment with designs. Designs could be altered.