The generative manufacturing of plastic components via rapid prototyping has positively affected the product development. As 'rapid manufacturing' the method is about to revolutionize the manufacturing in general. The more the special characteristics of generative manufactured plastic components are getting about, the louder becomes the call for generative manufactured metal components. The development of analogical processes runs on full speed. So far however, only sporadic successes can be registered. Though there are in particular the metal components which could, equipped with the special characteristics of generative manufactured components, initiate a developmental boost in many industries. For the potential operator it is particularly confusing that the different approaches are traced parallel. Therefore in the following contribution the attempt is undertaken not only to represent this wide field in a systematic way but to describe possibilities and trends as well.
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