Which statement correctly describes 3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing)?

• A. The construction of a 3D object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model.
• B. The production of printed circuit boards
• C. A scanning technique for 3D models
• D. The process of projecting light to cure resin

Answer: (A)

3D printing (Additive Manufacturing) is about turning a digital design into a physical object by adding material layer by layer. It starts with a CAD model or digital 3D file, which is then sliced into thin horizontal layers that guide the printer to build the object from the bottom up. This broad idea captures the essence of additive manufacturing, regardless of which specific technology is used (such as fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, or selective laser sintering).

The other statements describe related but different things. Producing printed circuit boards focuses on electronics fabrication rather than creating 3D objects from a digital model. A scanning technique captures real-world geometry to create or update a digital model, not the actual production of a physical part. Projecting light to cure resin describes a particular printing method (a resin-based process) rather than the general concept of additive manufacturing.