Many futurists and forecasters project that 3D printing will become dominant in manufacturing. Yet additive manufacturing is more than 2000 times smaller than the overall manufacturing industry.

3D printing of complex objects typically takes a long time due to the printing process necessarily laying down a large number of 2D layers to build up the object. The process usually wastes a lot of ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Since 3D printers debuted in the 1980s, the devices have been used ...

When slicing a model for 3D printing, the part is divided into a stack of flat, 2D layers. But there’s an alternative in the form of non-planar slicing, where the layers can follow 3D curves. [Rene K.