Additive Manufacturing Technologies: An Overview about 3D Printing Methods and Future Prospects

Table 12

Decision variables when choosing a prototyping technology.

CHARACTERISTICS	SPECIFICATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED
COSTS	Price of the machine (including post-production and maintenance)
	Unitary model cost
	Cost of training qualified operators
	Control and modelling software
	Annual maintenance cost
DIMENSIONS	Workspace
	Dimensions of the machine
	Weight of the machine
	Noise level
	Mandatory accessories
WORK MATERIAL	Colour or number of colours, transparency
	Possibility of recycling material
	Technical characteristics of the material
	Working temperature
PRECISION	Precision
	Height/Thickness of layer
	Minimum detail size
	Resolution
	Minimum wall thickness
OTHERS	Vertical working speed
	Network/On-line connection
	Files supported, scope of the software associated with the machine
	Adaptability to accessories
	User friendliness (ease of handling and maintenance)