A recently client called to ask about the useful life of Digital Manufacturing equipment. Once I saw the make and models of the assets, it was clear what the client meant was 3D printing (or “Additive Manufacturing”) equipment.

Dean Bartles, the ASME’s New Technology Advisor, stated clearly in the ASME journal:

“Some people think Digital manufacturing is 3D Printing, but it’s not. Digital manufacturing is virtual representation of the of the entire manufacturing process so that designers can [see the impact of their choices] on a virtual computer screen.”

The take away”¦ Digital Manufacturing is a design processing using software and state of the art data gathering. 3D Printing is a machine using advance design, bonding and material science that makes objects.