What process involves creating a 3D object from a digital model?

The process that involves creating a 3D object from a digital model is 3D printing. This technology allows for the physical creation of three-dimensional objects by layering materials based on a digital design. A printer reads a 3D model, typically created in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, and builds the object layer by layer from materials such as plastic, metal, or resin. This additive manufacturing process enables the production of complex shapes and structures that can be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing techniques.

In contrast, Computer-Aided Design primarily refers to the software used to create the digital model, rather than the physical creation of the object itself. Subtractive manufacturing involves removing material from a solid block to create an object, while laser cutting is a process used to cut through materials using a laser beam, neither of which generate a 3D object in the same way that 3D printing does.