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)

Advantages of this process are:

• High Strength
• Cost effective
• Waterproof
• ABS material
• Multiple material colors

Material:

• ABS Plastic
• ABS
• ABSi
• Polycarbonate
• Polycarbonate ABS blend
• Polycarbonate ISO
• Polyphenylsulfone