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Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

At a glance

Lifecycle

Early stage prototyping

Lead Time

As fast as 1 day

FDM Print Size

FDM bed size to
914mm x 610mm x 914mm

Materials

ABS, ABS – M30i, ABS ESD, ASA, Nylon 12, Nylon 6, PC-ISO, PC+ABS, PETG, Polycarbonate (PC), Ultem 1010, Ultem 9085,

3D Printing Materials

ABS

ABS – M30i

ABS ESD

ASA

Nylon 12

Nylon 6

PC-ISO

PC+ABS

PETG

Polycarbonate (PC)

Ultem 1010

Ultem 9085

ABS

ABS is a plastic material that's great for mechanical strength and early stage rough prototypes. ABS is a cost-effective material for initial prototyping applications, and with post-processing options it can offer better surface finish than PLA.
Process:
FDM 3D printing
Colors:
Black, Blue, Neutral, Red, White
Resolution:
0.25 mm
Max Print Size:
914 x 609 x 914 mm

Design Recommendations

Max Part Size

ABS / ABS ESD / Polycarbonate (PC) / PC+ABS:
500 x 500 x 500 mm
PLA / PET-G / ASA:
300 x 300 x 400 mm

Min Feature Size

1 mm
1 mm

Tolerance

+/- 0.5 mm or +/- 1% per inch
+/- 0.5 mm or +/- 1% per inch

Min Wall Thickness

1 mm
1 mm

Min Hole Diameter

1 mm
1 mm

Min Gaps for Mating Parts

0.1 mm minimum; 0.2 mm to ensure fit
0.1 mm minimum; 0.2 mm to ensure fit

Additional Design for Manufacturing Tips

  • No internal cavities
  • Limit curved surfaces, especially for PLA and PET-G as they require a flat surface to result in a successful print
  • Orientation on small holes is very important (xy plane is much more cylindrical)
  • Bridging: distances of up to 10 mm do not necessarily need support material, as long as the area being printed has support on both sides of the material being laid down.

Cost Saving Tips

  • Cut large models into multiple smaller parts, to fit on a smaller, less expensive machines.
  • Reduce the amount of support material required by overhangs and special orientations.
  • Choose PLA for simple geometry parts and where tolerance is less important.

About the Process

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a 3D printing technology (also known as additive manufacturing) commonly used for modeling, prototyping, and production applications. Each layer is created by extruding material from a nozzle to produce 3D objects.

FDM processes require support material, either breakaway or soluble, so it’s important to keep this in mind when choosing this process as it can affect the final part.

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