2. The situation

2.1 Technologies involved

One of the main characteristics of 3D or three-dimensional printing is the principle behind the technique itself. Whereas CNC machining is based on a material removal process, printing technologies are based on "additive" approaches. The idea is to create an object by successive deposition (i.e., addition) of material, following a predefined format or model.

This characteristic is also reflected in the terminology, as the notion of "Additive Manufacturing" (AM) is often used instead of "3D printing". The notion of AM is broader than just printing systems, since it encompasses the entire ecosystem associated with this manufacturing process.

The general principle is based on the modeling of pre-existing materials...