Abstract: In all ages, for all the kinds of manufacturing technologies adopted by human, the processing tools are always located outside the stock material processed, the material is processed from its outer surface or outer layer and the final shaping-surface should be progressively reached. Nowadays, however, people start trying to put the tool inside the stock material and let the processing energy be directly used for forming the new surface of the part. Such a novel shape forming technology is called as “inner processes”, and all the traditional processes can be categorized as “outer processes”. The development from outer processes to Inner Processes brings human’s shape-forming technology from 2-D surface into 3-D space, which greatly improves shape-forming capability. Hence, this trend is noteworthy. The understanding on inner processes and achievements in inner processes research are introduced and the prosperity in the near future of the technique are described.

Key words: Fabrication technology, Inner process, Laser process, Outer process, Shape-forming