Additive manufacturing (AM) has skyrocketed in visibility commercially and in the public sector. This article describes the development of this field from early layered manufacturing approaches of photosculpture, topography, and material deposition. Certain precursors to modern AM processes are also briefly described. The growth of the field over the last 30 years is presented. Included is the standard delineation of AM technologies into seven broad categories. The economics of AM part generation is considered, and the impacts of the economics on application sectors are described. On the basis of current trends, the future outlook will include a convergence of AM fabricators, mass-produced AM fabricators, enabling of topology optimization designs, and specialization in the AM legal arena. Long-term developments with huge impact are organ printing and volume-based printing.

中文翻译：

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对增材制造的看法

增材制造 (AM) 在商业和公共部门的知名度猛增。本文描述了该领域从早期的光雕、地形和材料沉积分层制造方法的发展。还简要描述了现代 AM 工艺的某些前身。介绍了该领域在过去 30 年的发展情况。其中包括将 AM 技术标准划分为七大类。考虑了增材制造零件的经济性，并描述了经济性对应用部门的影响。根据当前趋势，未来前景将包括 AM 制造商、批量生产的 AM 制造商的融合、拓扑优化设计的实现以及 AM 法律领域的专业化。