---
title: "Additive Manufacturing (aka 3D Printing) Infographic"
description: "Shapeways put together this incredible infographic on Additive Manufacturing (aka 3D Printing.)"
canonical: "https://www.baldengineer.com/additive-manufacturing-infographic.html"
author: "James Lewis"
date: "2015-10-20T13:00:47Z"
lastmod: "2022-03-31T03:31:52Z"
image: "https://www.baldengineer.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/shapeways_3d_printing_v3.jpg"
categories: ["3d-printing","around-the-web"]
tags: ["3d-printing","shapeways"]
---

# Additive Manufacturing (aka 3D Printing) Infographic


While I was attending a material science conference, I learned the value of listening to something new. The paper I came to see was finished, and the next was about to start. It was titled, "[Additive Manufacturing](https://www.shapeways.com/additive-manufacturing)."

I almost left!

What a dull phrase, right? Well, I was stuck in the middle of a row with four people on either side of me. So I decided, it was a good time to catch up on Reddit. What I didn't realize is "[additive manufacturing](https://www.shapeways.com/additive-manufacturing)" is what almost everyone else in the world calls "[3D Printing](/tag/3d-printing/)." Plus, this presenter was talking about doing it with metal!

When you think about it, most extrusion-based 3D printers are laying down material one layer at a time. In other words, they are manufacturing an object by "adding" material. See the connection? Most people probably lump 3D-printing into [rapid prototyping](https://www.shapeways.com/getting-started/rapid-prototyping) and additive manufacturing into a "real" production process.

One more story.

At SXSW one year, I attended an event held by [Shapeways](https://www.shapeways.com/). Objects they made were all over the venue, and they looked incredible. Plus, some were for sale. My favorite? Super Mario Bros related stuff. Do a search for ["Mario" in Shapeways marketplace](http://www.shapeways.com/search?q=mario) for some neat things to add to your desk.