The similarities between additive manufacturing (AM) and fusion welding have made Science and Technology of Welding and Joining an appropriate venue to discuss the recent progress made in AM. This special issue highlights significant recent progress in AM towards inventing new processes, developing novel materials, improving microstructure, achieving unique mechanical properties, and reducing defects. Furthermore, it identifies the modern tools of the digital age such as mechanistic modelling, machine learning, and digital twin as powerful drivers of this progress. The articles in this special issue are also believed to identify research needs and opportunities for the AM community.

增材制造 (AM) 和熔焊之间的相似性使得《焊接与连接科学与技术》成为讨论增材制造最新进展的合适场所。本期特刊重点介绍了增材制造在发明新工艺、开发新型材料、改善微观结构、实现独特的机械性能和减少缺陷方面的最新进展。此外，它还认为机械建模、机器学习和数字孪生等数字时代的现代工具是这一进步的强大驱动力。本期特刊中的文章也被认为确定了增材制造社区的研究需求和机会。