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Fused deposition modeling<\/strong>, or\u00a0FDM 3D Printing<\/strong>, is a method of additive manufacturing where layers of materials are fused together in a pattern to create an object. The material is usually melted just past its glass transition temperature, and then extruded in a pattern next to or on top of previous extrusions, creating an object layer by layer.<\/p>\n In layman\u2019s terms, a typical FDM 3D printer takes\u00a0a plastic filament and squeezes it through a hot end, melting it and then depositing it in layers on the print bed. These layers are fused together, building up throughout the print, and eventually they will form the finished part.<\/p>\n FDM is\u00a0the same as fused filament fabrication (FFF), but the term \u201cfused deposition modeling\u201d and the abbreviated \u201cFDM\u201d were trademarked by Stratasys in 1991, creating the need for a second name.<\/p>\n Many types of materials can be used with FDM techniques, including the most common thermoplastics, chocolate, pastes, and even \u201cexotic\u201d materials like metal- or wood-infused thermoplastic.<\/p>\n Widely accepted as the simplest way to achieve 3D printing,\u00a0FDM is cheap and fairly efficient. FDM 3D printers dominate the 3D printing market, almost drowning out more expensive methods. For a list of all 10 methods of 3D printing, take a look at\u00a0this article<\/a>, and to find the best 3D printers available today, have a look at\u00a0this curated list<\/a>.<\/p>\n Variations in the extrusion system of fused deposition modeling\u00a03D printers include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n The common theme with all of these variations is that a substance is being extruded through a nozzle onto a build plate and\/or fusing through heat or material adhesion to a previous layer in specific patterns to create a shape, which is the basis of an FDM 3D printer.<\/p>\n Other variations in FDM 3D printing include the systems of movement for all 3 axes on a printer. The two main variations are Cartesian 3D printers \u2014 like the\u00a0RepRap<\/a>\/Prusa i3<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0the CoreXY<\/a>\u00a0designs \u2014 and\u00a0delta 3D printers<\/a>. Each has advantages over the others, but they all use the same general method of printing. For a comparison of designs, see\u00a0this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n FDM offers a number of advantages over other 3D printing methods, but it also has some downsides.<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the biggest advantages of FDM 3D printing is\u00a0scalability<\/strong>: It can be easily scaled to any size. This is because the only constraint in the size of a build area is the movement of each gantry \u2013 make the gantry rails longer and the build area can be made larger.\u00a0Of course, there are a few minor issues, and at a certain point the cost is no longer offset by the benefits, but no other printer design is capable of being scaled as easily with as few issues as FDM.<\/p>\n One of the more obvious benefits of having an easily-scalable design is the cost-to-size ratio. FDM printers are\u00a0continually being made bigger and less expensive, due to low part costs and the simple designs involved. Other styles of printer cost many times more per unit area of build volume, simply because they are difficult to scale up and the key components are still quite expensive. Check out\u00a0this article<\/a>\u00a0for a list of the best cheap FDM machines.<\/p>\nVariations in Design & Capability<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Advantages & Disadvantages<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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