Well it's still discrete in that they deposit fixed amounts of polymer along a grid. Selective laser sintering is much closer to a true analog process: http://

Well it's still discrete in that they deposit fixed amounts of polymer along a grid. Selective laser sintering is much closer to a true analog process: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_laser_sintering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_laser_sintering However, as an analogy it's simply there to convey an additive process which can create a wide range of shapes that all share similar property's. (Density, melting point, texture etc.) Otherwise, people look at you funny when you say you need to sand and paint something that's been 3d printed.