What is FDM 3D Printing Technology | Fused Deposition Modeling Additive Manufacturing

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Thermoplastic filament feeds
through a heated head and
exits, under high pressure, as
a fine thread of semi-molten
plastic. In a heated chamber,
this extrusion process lays down
a continuous bead of plastic
to form a layer. This layering
process repeats to manufacture
thermoplastic parts.

How FDM Works

3D printers that run on FDM Technology build parts layer-by-layer from the bottom up by heating and extruding thermoplastic filament. The process is simple:

- Pre-processing: Build-preparation software slices and positions a 3D CAD file and calculates a path to extrude thermoplastic and any necessary support material.

- Production: The 3D printer heats the thermoplastic to a semi-liquid state and deposits it in ultra-fine beads along the extrusion path. Where support or buffering is needed, the 3D printer deposits a removable material that acts as scaffolding.

- Post-processing: The user breaks away support material or dissolves it in detergent and water, and the part is ready to use.

FDM Benefits

- The technology is clean, simple-to-use and office-friendly
- Supported production-grade thermoplastics are mechanically and environmentally stable
- Complex geometries and cavities that would otherwise be problematic become practical with FDM technology

FDM Thermoplastics

FDM Technology uses the same tried and tested thermoplastics found in traditional manufacturing processes. For applications that demand tight tolerances, toughness and environmental stability – or specialized properties like electrostatic dissipation, translucence, biocompatibility, VO flammability or FST ratings – there’s an FDM thermoplastic that can deliver.