Table 1.

Different powder-based 3D-printing process capabilities and applications.

3D-Printing Process	Layer Thickness (μm)	Minimum Feature (μm)	Main Applications	References
Powder bed binder jetting (PBBJ)–ceramic, composites	2–300	22–500	Mold manufacturing, microporous bioceramic implants, bioresorbable devices, Surgical templates, drug delivery system, Implant with various medicines, highly porous tablet, orodispersible dosage forms, extended-release tablet	[71,91,99,145,146,147,148,149]
PBBJ–polymer and metal	20–100	100–500	Lattice structures, mold manufacturing, prototyping, implants	[91,99,145,146,147,150]
Multijet fusion (MJF)	80–100	250–500	Lattice structures, prosthetics, functional part, dental aligners, orthotics, robotic arm/grip, motorbike manifold, fluid management systems	[87,106,108,109,151]
Selective laser sintering (SLS)	76–100	40–100	Various types of non-porous and porous structures, scaffolds, biodegradable scaffolds, biomedical fabrication, dental components, craniofacial and joint implants, modified-release and immediate-release tablets, orally dissolving tablet	[99,126,146,147,148,149,150,152,153,154,155]
Selective laser melting (SLM)	20–100	40–200	Electronics, aerospace, scaffolds, biodegradable scaffolds, biomedical fabrication, cervical, vertebral body replacement, porous dental implants, heat exchanger, cryogenic switch, heat sinks	[3,33,146,152,156]
Electron beam melting (EBM)	50–200	100–200	Various types of non-porous and porous structures, scaffolds, turbine blade manufacturing and repair	[3,33,152]
Powder directed energy deposition (PDED)	200–800	500–3000	Repair of bespoke parts, biomedical fabrication, knee and hip implants, turbine blade manufacturing and repair	[3,33,152]