.png){kind=spacer}
Principles of FDM 3D Printing
FDM (fuse deposition modeling) 3D printing is one of the most common additive manufacturing processes. The principle involves layering a previously melted thermoplastic material by extrusion. The material is liquefied by heating the extrusion nozzle and applying pressure by pushing the filament through a toothed screw (feeder). Once deposited, the material fuses with the previous layer and solidifies upon cooling. The principle remains the same, but the geometry of the machines varies depending on whether the feeder is located directly above the print head or at a distance from it.
Many thermoplastic materials are now available for FDM 3D printing. Among these, PLA (polylactic acid) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) are the two basic materials. Users usually start with PLA, which is considered easier to print, then move on to ABS or more specialized materials (nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethanes, etc.).
