Photo of parts (in white) created by additive 
fabrication, courtesy of Stratasys

The three primary applications of additive fabrication are design/modeling, fit and function prototyping, and direct part production. "Additive manufacturing" serves as a catch-all term for the technologies used to drive these applications. Around the world, AM is changing the way organizations design and manufacture products. When used correctly, it can save impressive amounts of time and money. Companies maintain that AM has helped trim weeks, even months, of design, prototyping, and manufacturing time, while avoiding costly errors and enhancing product quality. 

Terminology and Definitions