3D printing (additive manufacturing) builds physical objects by adding material layer by layer from a digital model — the opposite of subtractive manufacturing (machining), which cuts material away.
The main technologies
| Technology | Material | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| FDM/FFF | Filament (PLA, PETG, ABS…) | Prototypes, functional parts, education — the volume market |
| SLA/MSLA (resin) | Photopolymer resin | High-detail models, jewelry, dental |
| SLS / MJF | Powder (nylon, TPU) | Production parts, complex geometries |
Where filament fits
Filament is the consumable of FDM — and its quality decides most of the print's quality: diameter tolerance (±0.02 mm), dryness and color consistency. The 3D printing filament market is projected to reach ~$4.2 billion by 2030 (MarketsandMarkets), with engineering materials growing fastest.