1

I'm working with a project involving 3D printing's terminology, but I'm not such an expert... so I was asking myself if someone can explain the meaning of the "downstream" adjective in this field.

More precisely, I'm dealing with this sentence: "Handle any downstream task", which I really can't understand because it has a very poor context.

I also have this sentence with the adjective that I'm having trouble with:

Confidently send your surfaces downstream knowing your results are usable design surfaces.

Greenonline
  • 5,831
  • 7
  • 30
  • 60
Vforpanic
  • 31
  • 1
  • A link to the page would be useful, in order to fully understand. That said, this question probably belongs on ELL.SE. – Greenonline Dec 22 '18 at 03:33

2 Answers2

1

Without more anymore context "downstream" could be in reference to a print that would be sent to another machine for post-processing. The post-processing machine is "downstream" from the machine used to make the print in the first place.

user5507
  • 11
  • 3
0

Imagine an assembly line and the flow of the material along that line. That flow is analogous to a river, and therefore any machining/processing following on from any point along that line is considered to be downstream of that point.

From Wikipedia - Downstream (Manufacturing)

Downstream in manufacturing refers to processes that occur later on in a production sequence or production line.

Greenonline
  • 5,831
  • 7
  • 30
  • 60