1. Emerging trends in additive and subtractive manufacturing

Abstract

The manufacturing sector has experienced a rapid advancement in the last few decades. From the popularization of computer numerical control machines as the face of traditional machining to the development of additive manufacturing (AM), it has been an open field in a series of innovations. Although AM is promising in terms of material savings and generation of complex parts rapidly, it cannot be a replacement for the conventional machining process, which seems better in terms of mass production. Thus, a hybridization of both the technologies seems to offer an optimal solution with respect to increased productivity and efficiency. Besides, improvement in information and communication technologies, Internet of things (IoT), robotics, and so on makes the manufacturing process self-sufficient and fully integrated. Besides, collaborative manufacturing systems are now a reality that responds in real time to meet changing demands and conditions in the factory, in the supply network, and in customer needs. All these have paved the roadmap for the implementation of Industry 4.0 (4th industrial revolution)