Fabricating with 3D-printig is good for prototyping and low volume production.

While 3D printing machinery cost may be similar to other capable automated manufacturing machinery, the material cost associated with 3D printing is usually much higher.

Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) produce metals parts will somewhat lower mechanical properties because of the inherent porosity in the part due to sintering.

Metal powder is easy to produce and handle and is a more cost effective than solid metal produced using conventional methods.

Advances on the hardware is much more limited compared to the virtual side of things (i.e. electronics, sensing, software, AI, IOT, IR 4.0 etc.)

Machines/Robots are good for doing repetitive task that does not involve high levels of dexterity (i.e. fine, precise, intricate and complex movements).

Automation/Robots/Machines are always more cost effective than humans in manufacturing and their related operations.

Machines/Robots are already making and maintaining machines on a large scale, and with artificial intelligence driving innovation and improvements, it is only a matter of time before humans lose control (judgement day).

Automation/Machine/Robots are at times less cost effective than human workers but are preferred for working in hostile environments (i.e. hot work, harmful chemicals/gasses, radiation).

Machines and their controllers must always be from the same vendor.

A computer running a software such as Mach 3 can take the place of a controller.

Can support various sensors to facilitate with alignment of the workpiece, logging, remote monitoring and triggering of alarm.

Usually a micro controller with a firmware running on it.

Analytical Equation Solver

Programming compiler / edition similar to C/C++, Fortran, Python

Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

The commands in the G-code files are read by the machine controller which then sends signals to various components of the machine to execute such as motor controllers and coolant pump. 

The G-code file must be produced from the same CAD software that is used to design the component.

G-code file format and commands share many similarities across different machines, from 3D printers, to laser/plasma cutters, water jet cutters and CNC milling and lathe machines. 

A G-code file is a text file with a command on each line.

Each G-code file is produced specifically for a certain machine and contains machine specific commands and also takes into consideration the available workspace and machine capabilities.

A G-code file can only be produced by CAM software. It cannot be written or edited directly using a text editor.

A G-code is a binary file and could also be encrypted.

The laser energy is focused leading to a clean and narrow cutting gap (kerf).

Compared to plasma cutting, the cutting thickness using laser is more limited.

Conversion rate from electrical to laser energy is low so added operating cost is high.

Shielding gas is regularly used with laser cutting.

The wavelength of the laser is unimportant, only laser power matters.