Subtractive manufacturing makes parts by REMOVING material from a solid block or bar — milling, turning, drilling, grinding and EDM all cut away stock until the finished shape remains. It is the opposite of additive manufacturing (3D printing), which BUILDS a part up layer by layer. Nearly every CNC machine tool — machining centers, lathes, grinders — is subtractive.
Subtractive methods deliver the tight tolerances, fine surface finishes and broad material range that most precision metal parts demand, which is why CNC machining still dominates production. Additive vs subtractive isn't either/or — additive shines for complex geometries and prototypes, subtractive for accuracy, finish and volume; many shops use both. See CNC and machining center.
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