Industrial manufacturing is increasingly relying on a combination of subtractive and additive processes to maximize efficiency and design freedom. While subtractive methods such as milling, grinding or turning offer high precision and excellent surface quality, 3D printing offers advantages such as material efficiency, lightweight construction potential and the production of complex geometries. This synergy is used particularly in sectors such as the automotive and aviation industries, medical technology and mechanical engineering.
Additive manufacturing technologies such as selective laser sintering (SLS) or direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) enable the layer-by-layer construction of components made of metal or plastic. These processes make it possible to produce functionally optimized structures with integrated cavities or cooling systems that would be impossible or very costly to produce using traditional manufacturing methods. In the aerospace industry, such lightweight structures are used to reduce weight while ensuring high mechanical strength.
However, subtractive manufacturing remains indispensable, especially for series production and the post-processing of additively manufactured components. Processes such as CNC milling and grinding ensure that tight tolerances are maintained and optimum surface qualities are achieved. Companies such as LUKAS-ERZETT offer specialized tools for processing 3D printed components in order to optimize their final geometry and meet functional requirements.
The combination of both manufacturing processes enables companies to make their production processes more flexible and adapt quickly to new requirements. Additive and subtractive technologies thus complement each other and offer manufacturers a wide range of options for optimizing production chains
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