From Design to a Finished Part: How Does the 3D Printing Process Work?

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process in which thin layers of material are deposited one on top of the other to form an object. There are several printing techniques available today, grouped into seven main families that enable design using a wide range of materials, from plastics and metals to ceramics and silicones.

The Seven Additive Manufacturing Technology Families

Vat Photopolymerization: a liquid resin reacts with photons emitted by a UV light source to harden and form a part. This part is immersed in a liquid resin bath during printing.

Thanks to this huge variety of technologies, we’re able to manufacture everything from jewelry to buildings to rockets. All these technologies come with a different workflow, but whatever the 3D printing technology used, the additive manufacturing process can be broken down into four stages, which we will detail below.