Subtract manufacturing or subtraction manufacturing involves cutting out a block of solid material. It can be a block, for example, of metal, plastic or wood. A milling machine that cuts/hollows a piece of metal or plastic is an example of subtractive manufacturing.
Subtract production is also possible by manual cutting of the material. In fact, before the industrial revolution, that was how most things were done.
3DPrintingForBeginners.com has this simple but accurate definition of the term:
“Manufacturing processes are based on controlled removal of unwanted materials by cutting, drilling or milling to obtain the desired shape.”
This is in contrast to additive manufacturing.
Additive vs. subtractive manufacturing
The adjective “minus” means “tends to or has the ability to cancel or subtract”. If something is minus, it takes everything away.
On the other hand, the adjective “additive” means “to tend or be able to add”. If something is additive, it means it adds more things.
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Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing involves creating three-dimensional objects by adding layer after layer. Since the turn of the century, additive manufacturing technology has advanced significantly. Today’s 3D printers can even create jet engine turbines.
3D printing is a type of additive manufacturing.
- subtractive manufacturing
Subtract manufacturing or “machining” involves cutting, hollowing out, or removing parts from a block of something.
Sculptors go through this process when making statues. They start with a large block of stone or wood and gradually carve it. Finally, they have a statue of man, woman, child, human head, animal, etc.
Just put; Additive manufacturing involves adding layers (or bits) after layers (or bits). Subtraction production, on the other hand, involves removing the layer (or bits) after the layer (or bits).
When crafting: With “minus”, the object gets smaller as you progress. With “additive” it’s the opposite – the audience gets bigger as you progress.
Machinists
A person who uses a machine in a production process other than a mechanic. Mechanic works in a machine shop.
Fabrication or machining is part of the manufacturing process of most metal products.
Gradually, CNC machines replaced humans. CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, where a computer controls the movement and operation of minuscule machines such as lathes and milling machines.
MakePartsFast.com explains one advantage of subtractive manufacturing over additive manufacturing:
“Besides eliminating the overlap of addition processes, subtraction processes have other advantages. They provide a wide variety of surface finishes, eliminating the “ladder” surfaces commonly found in many additive processes. »
“Finishing can be functionally important if parts need to slide and aesthetically important if prototypes are used for market testing.”
However, milling undercuts is not always easy. Machining also tends to be more expensive than using an additive process.
