Additive manufacturing: Integrated fabrication of macro/microstructures

Additive manufacturing(AM) is emerging as an advanced manufacturing technology based on the principles of laminated fabrication. It integrates multidisciplinary fields including information technology, novel material technology and manufacturing technology. It is currently recognized as one of the most competitive technologies in the world. Here the concept of integrated fabrication for macro/microstructures is presented based on the layer-by-layer accumulation process of AM, which exhibits unparalleled advantages over other manufacturing technologies for the fabrication of metallic, ceramic and composite material parts. It could extremely shorten the manufacturing cycle and holds the potential to stimulate the transform of manufacturing modes from mass production to personalized manufacturing. Typical applications of AM in the integrated fabrication of macro/microstructures are illustrated and discussed in light of recent progress in metallic parts with oriented crystal microstructures, photonic crystals and tissue-engineered scaffolds. In comparison with conventional manufacturing technologies, AM provides a unique solution to realize the integrated fabrication of macro/microstructures and demonstrates the future prospects of manufacturing technologies, which could provide powerful supports for the development and innovation of related disciplines and industrial fields.