Three-Dimensional Printing on a Rotating Cylindrical Mandrel: A Review of Additive-Lathe 3D Printing Technology

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a powerful rapid manufacturing technology with wide applicability in scientific research, in industry, and for the home hobbyist. A popular 3D printing discipline known as fused deposition modeling (FDM) has several shortcomings, including stairstepping in the approximation of curves, anisotropy in physical properties, and the need for support material in models with large overhangs and severe angles. These limitations are especially concerning in 3D bioprinting of tissue constructs that contain voids, including a host of tubular biological structures such as vasculature, intestine, respiratory tissue, and long bone. The use of sacrificial support material can lead to excessive printing time, while its exclusion may lead to mid-print or postprint tissue collapse. Additive-lathe 3D printing technology is an emerging discipline in the field of additive manufacturing and offers a unique method for FDM printing that promises to circumvent some of these inadequacies while adding value as an alternative printing technique. The technology has seen use in several fields in recent years, yet researchers making gains in disparate fields appear to have not fully realized each other's advancements. This review aims to summarize the history and current state of additive-lathe 3D printing, comparing the hardware and software approaches of each embodiment, as well as their output. The review will go on to provide interdisciplinary insight into the utility, limitations, and potential future trends in this growing additive manufacturing technology.