Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing as it's more commonly known, is a process by which three-dimensional objects are created from computer models using an industrial printing robot - more specifically a 3D printer. Some have hailed the technology as the next industrial revolution since it shifts manufacturing from a large-scale, costly process to anyone with a computer and suitable printer. This allows production in small workshops for commercial applications or even using desktop printers for hobbyists. A range of printers already exist on the market and are available in numerous sizes down to units no bigger than a normal 2D inkjet printer, capable of creating plastic objects that can fit within a 10cm cube. On the other end of the scale are industrial printers capable of crafting objects from multiple plastics and metal alloys 2m high by 2m wide and 2m deep.
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