Without a doubt, the milestone that marked the beginning of additive manufacturing took place on 9th March 1983, when Charles W.

This chronological analysis will be based on dates of publication of works, dates of application for patents, and dates of acceptance of these patents, being aware that in any case the dates in which the developments were reached are always prior to those dates of a public nature. In order to enter the subject from its origins, before proposing a classification or analyzing the different technologies and their advantages and disadvantages, a chronological analysis of facts will be carried out that will allow us to later base the conclusions. Although very different in solution, principle, and embodiment, significant functional commonality exists among the technologies. Many different additive manufacturing (AM) technologies enable the production of prototypes and fully functional artefacts. It is important to say that the choice of technology is directly dependent on the particular application being planned: first the application and then the technology. This paper will expand upon the structural design of the machines, their history, classification, the alternatives existing today, materials used and their characteristics, the technology limitations, and also the prospects that are opening up for different technologies both in the professional field of innovation and the academic field of research. Additive manufacturing has several alternatives ranging from simple RepRap machines to complex fused metal deposition systems. Additive manufacturing is seen as being one of the major revolutionary industrial processes of the next few years. The following may also be achieved according to field of application: lighter weight products, multimaterial products, ergonomic products, efficient short production runs, fewer assembly errors and, therefore, lower associated costs, lower tool investment costs, a combination of different manufacturing processes, an optimised use of materials, and a more sustainable manufacturing process. Additive manufacturing techniques provide major competitive advantages due to the fact that they adapt to the geometrical complexity and customised design of the part to be manufactured. The use of conventional manufacturing methods is mainly limited by the size of the production run and the geometrical complexity of the component, and as a result we are occasionally forced to use processes and tools that increase the final cost of the element being produced.

Stratasys insight