Selective electron beam melting (SEBM) is an additive manufacturing technology developed from early 1990s, which has the outstanding advantages of high energy utilization, high build efficiency, low residual stress and vacuum protection. It is suitable for the fabrication of complex components with high melting point, high activity and brittle metal materials. As a kind of powder-bed 3D printing technology, SEBM is also commonly referred as powder-bed electron beam 3D printing technology. In this paper, from the following aspects of SEBM technology, including raw materials, microstructure and mechanical properties, formability and engineering application of complicated components, the work of author’s team on SEBM-ed rare metal materials over 10 years was reviewed. Especially, the research progress on SEBM-ed Ti-6Al-4V alloy was introduced on emphasis. Finally, based on the overall development tendency of 3D printing technology, the future prospects and development direction of SEBM technology were forecasted.