Cost and availability of raw and processed materials and manufactured components are major concerns in manufacturing.

Fused deposition modeling systems use molten plastic deposited in layers corresponding to cross sections on the part.

Laminated object manufacturing produces solid parts from sheets of material such as paper or vinyl.

In net-shape manufacturing, the part is made as close to the final specifications as possible to cut down on the cost of finishing operations.

This is a solid shape that fits inside the mold and forms a hole in a cooled cast metal or molten plastic object: