Abbreviation guide

• AM

Additive Manufacturing

Process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies.

• BTJ

Binder Jetting

Additive manufacturing process in which a liquid bonding agent is selectively deposited to join powder materials. It is one of the 7 process categories defined by ISO 17296 standard.

• DED

Direct Energy Deposition

Additive manufacturing process in which focused thermal energy is used to fuse materials by melting as they are being deposited. It is one of the 7 process categories defined by ISO 17296 standard.

• DLP®

Digital Light Processing

Known as a vat photopolymerization process used to produce parts from photopolymer materials in a liquid state using a light projector to cure a complete layer to a predetermined thickness and harden the material into the shape emmited by the projector; term denotes technology developed by Texas Instruments.

• DMLS®

Direct Metal Laser Sintering

A powder bed fusion process used to make metal parts directly from metal powders without intermediate “green” or “brown” parts; term denotes metal-based laser sintering systems from EOS GmbH – Electro Optical Systems.

• EBM®

Electron Beam Melting

A powder bed fusion process used to produce parts by utilizing a high-power electron beam that allows for high melting capacity of metal powder; term denotes machines built by ArCam, now part of GE Additive.

• FDM®

Fused Deposition Modeling

A material extrusion process used to make thermoplastic parts through heated extrusion and deposition of materials layer by layer; term denotes machines built by Stratasys, Inc.

• LS

Laser Sintering

A powder bed fusion process used to produce objects from powdered materials using one or more lasers to selectively fuse or melt the particles at the surface, layer by layer, in an enclosed chamber.

• MEX

Material Extrusion

Aditive manufacturing process in which material is selectively dispensed through a nozzle or orifice. It is one of the 7 process categories defined by ISO 17296 standard.

• MJT

Material Jetting

An additive manufacturing process in which droplets of build material are selectively deposited. It is one of the 7 process categories defined by ISO 17296 standard.

• MJF®

Multi Jet Fusion

A powder bed fusion process used to produce parts by utilizing a heat source and fuse agent to selectively melt the powder. A detailing agent is also jetted around the contours to improve the object resolution; term denotes machines built by HP.

• PBF

Powder Bed Fusion

An additive manufacturing process in which thermal energy selectively fuses regions of a powder bed. It is one of the 7 process categories defined by ISO 17296 standard.

• SHL

Sheet Lamination

Additive manufacturing process in which sheets of material are bonded to form an object. It is one of the 7 process categories defined by ISO 17296 standard.

• SL

Stereolithography

A vat photopolymerization process used to produce parts from photopolymer materials in a liquid state using one or more lasers to selectively cure to a predetermined thickness and harden the material into shape layer upon layer.

• SLA®

Stereolithography Apparatus

Denotes the SL machines from 3D Systems Corporation.

• SLM®

Selective Laser Melting

A powder bed fusion process used to produce parts by utilizing a high-power laser to selectively melt the powder; term denotes machines built by SLM Solutions.

• SLS®

Selective Laser Sintering

Denotes the LS process and machines from 3D Systems Corporation.

• VPP

Vat Photopolymerization

Additive manufacturing process in which liquid photopolymer in a vat is selectively cured by light-activated polymerization. It is one of the 7 process categories defined by ISO 17296 standard.