The Evolution of Additive Manufacturing： from Rapid Prototyping （RP） to “3D Printing Plus X”

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-132X.2026.09.030

Abstract

Abstract:

Additive manufacturing is one of the most representative transformative technologies in the field of advanced manufacturing. It has gradually evolved from early rapid prototyping（RP） into a systematic technology system for the fabrication of complex components， and has further expanded toward frontier directions such as 4D printing， bioprinting， and in-space manufacturing. This paper systematically reviewed the origin of additive manufacturing， the formation of typical processes， and its evolutionary trajectory from RP and rapid prototyping and manufacturing（RPM） to “3D printing plus X”. It analyzed the fundamental supporting role of digital manufacturing technologies， including CAD/CAM/CNC， in the emergence and development of additive manufacturing， with particular emphasis on how the expansion of material systems and breakthroughs in key equipment such as lasers have promoted its transition from “prototype fabrication” to “functional part manufacturing”. Overall， the development of additive manufacturing was not a linear extension of a single process， but the result of the coordinated driving forces of materials， processes， equipment， and application demands. Its technological connotation was continuously expanding from geometric structure formation to intelligent functionalization. In light of emerging directions such as 4D printing， bioprinting， in-space manufacturing， and integration with artificial intelligence， it pointed out that additive manufacturing was rapidly evolving from an advanced processing method into an important technological system underpinning future manufacturing.

Key words: rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, bioprinting, in-space manufacturing, 3D printing plus X

摘要：

增材制造是先进制造领域最具代表性的变革性技术之一，已由早期快速原型（RP）逐步演进为面向复杂构件制造的系统化技术体系，并进一步拓展至4D打印、生物制造和太空制造等前沿方向。系统回顾了增材制造的起源、典型工艺形成及其由RP、快速原型制造（RPM）向“3D打印+X”演进的发展历程，分析了CAD/CAM/CNC等数字化制造技术对增材制造技术形成与发展的基础支撑作用，重点阐明了材料体系拓展与激光器等关键装备突破对增材制造由“样件制造”迈向“功能件制造”的推动作用。总体看来，增材制造的发展不是单一工艺的线性延伸，而是材料、工艺、装备等因素与应用需求协同驱动的结果，其技术内涵正由几何结构成形向智能化功能赋予不断拓展。结合4D打印、生物制造、太空制造及人工智能融合等发展方向，指出增材制造正在由一种先进加工方法快速演进为支撑未来制造的重要技术体系。

关键词: 快速原型, 增材制造, 生物制造, 太空制造, 3D 打印+X

CLC Number:

TH164

WANG Guobiao, MIAO Kai, SONG Jianli. The Evolution of Additive Manufacturing： from Rapid Prototyping （RP） to “3D Printing Plus X”[J]. China Mechanical Engineering, 2026, 37(9): 2372-2381.

王国彪, 苗恺, 宋建丽. 增材制造的前世今生：从快速原型（RP）到“3D打印+X”[J]. 中国机械工程, 2026, 37(9): 2372-2381.

Figures/Tables 4

Fig.1 The early conceptual origin， key figures and evolution of typical processes of additive manufacturing

Fig.2 Key technological breakthroughs driving additive manufacturing from RPM to industrial-grade 3D printing

Fig.3 Additive manufacturing case and development history of SpaceX Raptor engines

Fig.4 AI-driven closed-loop framework for additive manufacturing

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