3D Printing: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy Implications of Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

Additive manufacturing has the potential to fundamentally change the production and distribution of goods. Unlike conventional or subtractive manufacturing processes, such as drilling, which create a part by cutting away material, additive manufacturing builds a part using a layer-by-layer process. Additive manufacturing has been used as a design and prototyping tool, but the focus of additive manufacturing is now shifting to the direct production of functional partsparts that accomplish one or more functions, such as medical implants or aircraft engine partsthat are ready for distribution and sale.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2015
Accession Number
AD1171901

Entities

People

  • Timothy Persons

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Aerospace Industry
  • Assembly
  • Commerce
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Congress
  • Construction
  • Engineering
  • Fabrication
  • Governments
  • Intellectual Property
  • Manufacturing
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Materials
  • National Security
  • Product Prototyping
  • Production
  • Prosthetics
  • Social Media
  • Supply Chain
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Test Methods
  • Three Dimensional
  • United States
  • United States Government

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Manufacturing Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design