3D printing: stacking layers
The process is quite simple. 3D printing is based on the idea of adding material: building up a product “layer wise”, or for precision manufacturing, even with “droplets-on-demand”, rather than starting with a solid block or sheet of material and then removing the material that you don’t want, such as machining.
Using 3D printing equipment today, you can choose from a great variety of materials, such as plastics and metals to create your objects. With having a digital CAD file that specifies the exact shape contours and complexity of the product to be printed, it’s only one step from the digital design process towards the real end-product.