Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is a transformative process within mechanical engineering that builds three-dimensional objects directly from a digital model, one layer at a time. Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing, which carves away material from a larger block, this method adds material—such as polymers, metals, or ceramics—only where needed. This fundamental approach enables the creation of highly complex geometries, lightweight structures, and customized parts that are often impossible to produce with conventional techniques, making it a critical tool for rapid prototyping, on-demand production of functional components, and innovating product design across countless engineering disciplines.