As the newest member of the manufacturing technology family, Additive Manufacturing, or more widely known as 3D Printing, fully incorporates the character and philosophy of CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Manufacturing) technologies, as it requires the existence of a digital model based on which the final product is constructed.
The work of Gibson, Rosen, and Stucker is one of the most comprehensive and detailed textbooks in this field, presenting a general overview of the basic principles and concepts, as well as an in-depth analysis of individual technologies: Rapid Prototyping, as well as unusual or emerging applications such as small-scale production, medical applications, aerospace part manufacturing, and rapid production of final products and tools (Rapid Manufacturing/Tooling). Finally, this book provides a comprehensive overview of supporting technologies, such as related software systems, secondary reproduction methods (vacuum casting, precision casting), and part finishing (plating, polishing).