Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a layered prototyping method that extrudes a melted thread of plastic through a thin nozzle and fused together layer by layer to form a 3D model. This process can sometimes be more economical than SLA or SLS.
How Does This Process Build the Parts?- A computer model is designed
- Then the design information gets copied to the machine
- A Thermoplastic material in the form of a filament feeds into temperature-controlled extrusion heads. (1 & 5)
- The filament is then heated to a semi-liquid state. (4)
- The head extrudes and deposits the material in thin layers (~0.127mm) onto a foam or acrylic sheet base. (3)
- The material then solidifies and laminates itself to the preceding layer in ~0.01s. (6)
- The second nozzle squeezes out similar material for support structure if it is needed. (2)
- High Strength
- Cost effective
- Waterproof
- ABS material
- Multiple material colors
- ABS Plastic
- ABS
- ABSi
- Polycarbonate
- Polycarbonate ABS blend
- Polycarbonate ISO
- Polyphenylsulfone
