The creation of a 3D printed object is an additive technology used to manufacture parts. It is additive in that it doesn’t require a block of material or a mold to manufacture physical objects, it just stacks and fuses layers of material. It’s generally quick, with minimal fixed setup costs, and can create more complex objects than ‘traditional’ technologies, with an ever-expanding list of materials. It is used extensively in the engineering industry, particularly for prototyping and creating lightweight geometries.