Injection molding injects molten plastic into a mold to create parts. Process uses heated barrel, screw-type plunger, and mould to shape material. Can process various materials including metals, glasses, elastomers, and polymers
3D printing constructs objects layer by layer from CAD models. First described in 1940s by Murray Leinster. First patent filed by Johannes F Gottwald in 1971. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) became most common process in 2020
STL is a 3D Systems-developed file format for stereolithography CAD. Created by Albert Consulting Group for 3D Systems in 1987. Describes raw triangulated surfaces using Cartesian coordinates. Contains no scale information or color/texture representation
PM produces materials from metal powders through compression and sintering. Processes reduce material losses and eliminate subtractive manufacturing. Used for porous products and materials with high melting points
Factories emerged during Industrial Revolution when cottage industry became impractical. Ancient Egypt had only one factory, Naucratis. First machines were animal traps, wheel invented around 3000 BC. Watermills were common in ancient civilizations, especially in Roman Empire
Injection molding requires careful design to ensure optimal part quality. Design determines manufacturing complexity and feasibility. Proper design prevents parts failure and reduces production costs