What is stair stepping in additive manufacturing?

• A. The phenomenon of the layer-by-layer approach taken in Additive Manufacturing.
• B. A method for calibrating measurement tools.
• C. A type of post-processing technique.
• D. A colorimetric inspection method.

Answer: (A)

Stair stepping is a geometric consequence of building an object layer by layer. Because each layer is a flat slice with a fixed thickness, surfaces that are angled or curved are approximated by a stack of flat steps. The result is a stepped or terraced appearance on those surfaces, with the step height equal to the layer thickness. Reducing layer height or adjusting part orientation and process parameters can lessen the effect, but the phenomenon itself directly stems from the discrete layering in additive manufacturing.

This isn’t about calibrating tools, post-processing techniques, or color-based inspection, which is why those other ideas don’t describe what stair stepping is. They refer to different aspects of manufacturing or quality checks rather than the layer-by-layer geometry that creates the stepped surface.