--- title: Additive Manufacturing - List of Terms description: Stay up to date with all additive manufacturing terms. CEAD explains the frequently used terms about large scale 3D printing. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/list-of-additive-manufacturing-terms#main-content) - [English](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/list-of-additive-manufacturing-terms) - [Deutsch](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/de/additive-fertigung-liste-der-begriffe) - [Español](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/es/fabricación-aditiva-lista-de-términos) - [Français](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/fr/fabrication-additive-liste-de-termes) - [Italiano](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/it/produzione-additiva-elenco-dei-termini) - [日本語](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/ja/積層造形-用語一覧) English Show submenu for translations [My Tickets](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/tickets) [![](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CEADlogo2020cam.png?width=120&height=90&name=CEADlogo2020cam.png)](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/) - [Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/) - [Documentation Hub](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/en/documentation-hub) - [Training Hub](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/en/training-hub) - [Tickets](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/tickets?status=all&view=my_tickets&offset=0) - Other sites Show submenu for Other sites - [CEAD Homepage](https://ceadgroup.com/) - [CEAD Vacancies](https://careers.ceadgroup.com/) - [Privacy Policy](https://ceadgroup.com/privacy-policy/) - [Service Policy](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/hubfs/Policies%20%2B%20Terms%20and%20Conditions/GEN_SUP_20260211_Service-Policy-v1.1.pdf) - [Terms & Conditions](https://ceadgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20221201-CEAD-Terms-and-Conditions.pdf) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/) - [Documentation Hub](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/en/documentation-hub) - [Training Hub](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/en/training-hub) - [Tickets](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/tickets?status=all&view=my_tickets&offset=0) - Other sites Show submenu for Other sites - [CEAD Homepage](https://ceadgroup.com/) - [CEAD Vacancies](https://careers.ceadgroup.com/) - [Privacy Policy](https://ceadgroup.com/privacy-policy/) - [Service Policy](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/hubfs/Policies%20%2B%20Terms%20and%20Conditions/GEN_SUP_20260211_Service-Policy-v1.1.pdf) - [Terms & Conditions](https://ceadgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20221201-CEAD-Terms-and-Conditions.pdf) - - [English](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/list-of-additive-manufacturing-terms) - [Deutsch](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/de/additive-fertigung-liste-der-begriffe) - [Español](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/es/fabricación-aditiva-lista-de-términos) - [Français](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/fr/fabrication-additive-liste-de-termes) - [Italiano](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/it/produzione-additiva-elenco-dei-termini) - [日本語](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/ja/積層造形-用語一覧) English Show submenu for translations - [My Tickets](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/tickets) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [CEAD Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/) 2. [Academy & skills](https://knowledge.ceadgroup.com/academy-skills) August 25, 2025 # Additive Manufacturing - List of Terms ## Stay up to date with all additive manufacturing terms. CEAD explains the frequently used terms about large scale 3D printing. - **3D Printing**: A common term used to describe additive manufacturing, particularly when it involves creating physical objects from digital 3D models. - **3D Scanner**: A device or software used to capture the physical shape and dimensions of objects in the real world to create 3D digital models. - **3D-printed object**: The result of additive manufacturing, created layer by layer using various materials and technologies. - **Adaptive slicing**: A feature in slicing software that automatically adjusts print parameters based on the geometry and complexity of the object. - **Additive design**: Designing products and components with the specific intention of optimizing them for additive manufacturing processes. - **Additive manufacturing (AM)**: The process of creating three-dimensional objects by adding material layer by layer, often referred to as [3D printing](https://ceadgroup.com/solutions/). - **Adhesion**: The ability of the first layer of a 3D print to properly stick to the build platform. - **Adhesive**: Substances used to improve adhesion between layers or to assist in bed adhesion during 3D printing. - **Bed leveling**: The process of ensuring that the build platform is perfectly level and at the correct height to achieve proper layer adhesion during printing. - **Bioprinting**: A specialized form of 3D printing that uses biological materials, like cells and tissues, to create living structures. - **Binder jetting**: An additive manufacturing process in which a liquid binder is selectively deposited onto a powder bed to bind particles together and create an object. - **Build plate/platform**: The surface upon which the 3D-printed object is constructed layer by layer. The platform can be heated and adjusted for specific LFAM applications. Read more on CEAD's [print bed](https://ceadgroup.com/solutions/technology-components/print-bed/). - **Build rate**: The speed at which layers or material are deposited during 3D printing, often measured in millimeters per second. - **Build volume**: The maximum size of the object that can be produced by a particular 3D printer. - **Dynamic Flow Control (DFC)**: A [DFC](https://ceadgroup.com/dynamic-flow-for-large-format-3d-print/), also known as a gear pump or melt pump, is a positive displacement pump that is used in LFAM to provide precise and constant pressure to the melted material as it is extruded from the nozzle. - **Computer-Aided Design (CAD)**: Software used to create digital 3D models of objects, which can be used as the basis for 3D printing. - **End-use parts**: Objects or components created using additive manufacturing that are intended for functional use in products or systems. - **Extruder**: The [component of a 3D printer](https://ceadgroup.com/solutions/technology-components/) responsible for pushing material into the print head. - **Extrusion temperature**: The temperature at which the granulated material is melted and extruded from the nozzle, typically controlled by the printer's settings. - **Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)**: A popular 3D printing technique that uses a heated nozzle to extrude thermoplastic filament onto a build platform layer by layer. - **Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)**: An alternative term for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), describing the process of building objects by melting and extruding thermoplastic filament. Click to read more about the difference between 3D printing [with filament versus using pellets](https://ceadgroup.com/3d-printing-with-pellet-extruders-versus-with-filament/). - **G-code**: A numerical control language used to control 3D printers, specifying the movement and behavior of the printer's print head or bed. - **Gantry**: The framework or structure that supports the moving components of a 3D printer, including the print head or bed. Read more about [CEAD's gantry solutions for 3D printing](https://ceadgroup.com/solutions/gantry-based-solutions/). - **Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)**: The temperature at which a 3D-printed material starts to deform under load, indicating its thermal stability. - **Heated bed**: A [heated build platform](https://ceadgroup.com/solutions/technology-components/print-bed/) used to improve adhesion and reduce warping in certain 3D printing processes. - **Hybrid Manufacturing**: A combination of additive and subtractive manufacturing processes, where 3D printing is used alongside traditional machining. - **Infill**: The pattern or density of material used to fill the interior of a 3D-printed object, which can affect its strength and weight. - **Layer adhesion**: The strength of the bond between adjacent layers in a 3D-printed object. - **Layer bonding**: The strength of the bond between successive layers in a 3D-printed object in FGF. - **Layer height**: The thickness of each individual layer of material deposited during 3D printing. - **Layer orientation**: The specific direction in which each layer of a 3D print is deposited, which can affect the object's strength and appearance. - **Material extrusion**: A category of additive manufacturing processes that includes FDM and other techniques where material is extruded through a nozzle to build up layers. - **Material extrusion rate**: The speed at which material is extruded through the nozzle during FGF printing, measured in millimeters per second. - **Multi-material printing**: The ability to 3D print objects using multiple materials simultaneously, often achieved with specialized dual-extruder 3D printers. - **Nozzle**: The part of an FDM 3D printer that heats up and extrudes the material onto the build platform. - **Nozzle diameter**: The diameter of the nozzle used in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers, which determines the width of the extruded material. - **Overshoot**: A printing issue where the print head goes slightly beyond its intended position, leading to inaccuracies in the final print. - **Part orientation**: The positioning of the 3D model on the build platform to optimize printing results. - **Post-processing**: The steps taken after FGF printing to clean, refine, and finish the printed object, which may include sanding, painting, or assembly. - **Printer nozzle**: The component of a 3D printer responsible for extruding material onto the build platform or previous layers. - **Raft**: A support structure or base layer printed beneath the main object to enhance adhesion and stability. - **Rapid prototyping**: The use of additive manufacturing to quickly create prototypes or models of products for design and testing purposes. - **Resolution XY**: The level of detail achievable in the horizontal plane (X and Y axes) of a 3D print, often measured in micrometers. - **Resolution Z**: The layer thickness or level of detail achievable in the vertical direction (Z axis) of a 3D print, often measured in micrometers or millimeters. - **Sacrificial support**: Temporary support structures that can be dissolved or removed after 3D printing, often used in complex prints. - **Scanning**: The process of capturing the physical shape of an object to create a 3D digital model, often using lasers or cameras - **Support Density**: The amount and spacing of support structures within a 3D-printed object, affecting post-processing efforts. - **Support material**: A removable material used in 3D printing to provide structural support for overhangs and complex geometries. - **Support removal tool**: Tools used to manually remove support structures from 3D-printed objects after printing. - **Support structures**: Temporary structures or scaffolding used in 3D printing to support overhanging or complex parts of an object during printing and later removed. - **Surface finish**: The quality and texture of the outer surface of a 3D-printed object, which can vary based on printing parameters and post-processing. - **Thermoplastic**: A type of material used in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing that can be melted and solidified multiple times. - **Tolerance**: The acceptable level of variation or deviation from the intended dimensions of a 3D-printed object. - **Tolerance stack-up**: The cumulative effect of variations in dimensions and tolerances across multiple components or features in a 3D-printed assembly. - **Tool change**: The process of switching between different print heads, nozzles, or CNC-mills during a 3D printing process to enable additive and subtractive manufacturing. - **Topology**: The study of the arrangement of elements within a structure or object, often optimized in design for additive manufacturing. - **Topology optimization**: The use of computer algorithms to optimize the internal structure of a 3D-printed object for strength and weight reduction. - **Voxel**: A three-dimensional pixel, representing a volumetric unit of space in a 3D digital model. - **Warping**: The tendency of a 3D-printed object to deform or lift at the corners or edges during cooling. - **X-Y Resolution**: The level of detail achievable in the horizontal plane of a 3D print, often measured in millimeters or micrometers. - **Z-Axis**: The vertical axis in a 3D printer, representing the direction in which layers are built up to create an object. - 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