Additive Manufacturing offers advantages at very stage in the design-to-manufacturing process. Upstream, small-scale or real size models of parts can be made directly from CAD models. It offers many advantages over traditional subtractive manufacturing because:
It generates less waste, since only the required materials are used for the final product
It enables faster design prototyping since AM can be piloted directly from CAD models
It can produce variable sizes (either real or scaled) for easier prototyping, visualization, stress tests, fitting to related parts, etc.
It is useful in making a wide range of parts (e.g. for the repair of discontinued parts) or in serial production
It is cost-effective, sustainable and flexible and can be used for applications in all industries.