Three-dimensional printing: a unique solid freeform fabrication technology fabricates tools and parts from a variety of materials.

The three-dimensional printing (3DP) process is a solid freeform fabrication technique, in which parts are built up in layers from a computer-aided design (CAD) model. Each layer begins with a thin distribution of powdered metal spread over the surface of a part-build bed. A binder material is deposited via inkjet printing technology to selectively join the metal partides in the shape of the part at that layer. The powder bed and part are lowered by a few thousandths of an inch, and a new layer of powder is spread over the previous layer, and selectively joined in the part pattern ...