Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is a technology in which components are created by building up material point by point and layer by layer. In contrast to subtractive processes such as milling or turning, in which material is removed, additive manufacturing enables complex geometries to be built directly from digital 3D models. The advantages include a high degree of design freedom, customization, and efficient use of materials. The components manufactured in this way are used in prototype construction, toolmaking, medical technology, aerospace, and mechanical engineering. Additive manufacturing encompasses much more than just the actual printing process. The process chain begins with the idea generation and includes the design and construction of a component model using CAD software. The aim is to develop new products with improved functions and properties. Software-supported optimizations, such as topology optimization or simulations, are particularly suitable for this purpose. This also includes the selection of suitable materials and the planning of necessary post-processing. Specifically, a CAD component model is broken down into thin layers on the computer. A 3D printer then applies the material layer by layer according to the layer decomposition data.