What is Fused Deposition Modeling?
Find Providers For FDMModels created with FDM have great strength and temperature resistance at low prices.
You can think of FDM as a computer-controlled hot glue gun that precisely deposits plastic to create parts.
How It Works
Fused Deposition Modeling (trademarked by Stratasys) is an additive manufacturing process.
The machine builds up layer upon layer of the 3D model, starting with the bottom layer.
After some hours have passed, the model is finished.
The moveable head has a heated nozzle which extrudes a fine filament of plastic (such as ABS) or metal in some cases. The material is laid down on the previous layer as sets of strips, which can be curved as they are laid down. The process is somewhat slow and often leaves ridges (stair stepping) on angled surfaces, depending on the printer's resolution. A support structure is also built during printing to support any overhanging features. After each layer is finished, the tray drops so that the machine can begin the next layer.
One Great Advantage
One great benefit of FDM is that it can use real thermoplastic materials, such as ABS plastic. This allows designers
and engineers to use real-world materials for strength, durability and temperature resistance.
- Rapid Prototypes
- Production Parts
Example quotes for a 2-inch sphere:
| Process | Qty 1 | Qty 10 |
|---|---|---|
| SLA | $376 each | $109 each |
| SLS | $501 each | $121 each |
| FDM | $182 each | $154 each |
| PolyJet | $479 each | $139 each |
| Machined Plastic | $458 each | $139 each |
| Urethane Castings | N/A | $120 each |
For More Information
Wikipedia article
See the Next Article: PolyJet 3D Printing