3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. The term "3D printing" can refer to a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined, or solidified under computer control to create a three-dimensional object, with the material being added together (such as plastics, liquids, or powder grains being fused), typically layer by layer.
Into the main foundations of this new industrial revolution, we can highlight the 3D printers, 3D scanners, artificial intelligence, and virtual/augmented reality. For this reason, the main goal of this book is to introduce basic concepts about all the main 3D printing technologies, presenting how 3D printers help industry 4.0 to rise.