Fused deposition modeling, or FDM, is a filament-based thermoplastic 3D printing technology that melts and extrudes material layer by layer onto a build plate to create a part.
FDM is the most common 3D printing process, offering efficiency, precision, cost benefits, and durable materials. It also offers the largest variety of materials and colors of any thermoplastic 3D printing process and a large build volume, making it a popular choice for rapid prototyping, production parts, tooling, fixtures, gauges, and much more.
FDM technology was developed by Scott Crump in the 1980s and was later commercialized by his company, Stratasys. It quickly gained popularity in the early 2010s due to its accessibility and low cost compared to other 3D printing technologies.
FDM 3D printing has a diverse range of applications across many industries.
| Type | Name | Description | Color(s) | MDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) | Stratasys ABS-CF10 | Combines the benefits of ABS with the stiffness of carbon fiber, resulting in an engineering thermoplastic with superior strength and rigidity for factory floor tooling applications. | Black | |
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) | Stratasys ABS-ESD7 | An ABS thermoplastic with static dissipative properties for safe, cost-effective ESD performance. | Black | |
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) | Stratasys ABS-M30 | Stronger than standard ABS and ideal for concept modeling, functional prototyping, manufacturing tools, and end-use parts. | Black, Dark Gray, White, Ivory, Blue, Red | |
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) | Stratasys ABS-M30i | A biocompatible material perfectly suited for medical, pharmaceutical, and food packaging applications. | Natural | |
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) | Stratasys ABSi | Offers superior strength to standard ABS, making it an ideal material for conceptual modeling and functional prototyping. | Translucent, Translucent Amber, Translucent Red | |
Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) | Stratasys ASA | A production-grade thermoplastic available in a wide range of fade-resistant colors suitable for outdoor applications. | Black, Dark Gray, Light Gray, White, Ivory, Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, Orange | |
Nylon/Polyamide (PA) | Markforged Onyx™ | A micro-carbon-fiber-filled nylon that yields accurate parts with a near-flawless surface finish. Few materials have the versatility of Onyx; it offers high strength, toughness, and chemical resistance when printed alone and can be reinforced with Continuous Fibers to yield aluminum-strength parts. | Black | |
Nylon/Polyamide (PA) | Stratasys Nylon 12 | A tough material with good impact resistance and high fatigue resistance, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including snap-fit closures. | Black | |
Nylon/Polyamide (PA) | Stratasys Nylon 12CF | Combines Nylon 12 and chopped carbon fiber to achieve the highest flexural strength and stiffness-to-weight ratio of any FDM material. | Black | |
Polycarbonate (PC) | Stratasys PC | Offers accuracy, durability, and stability, producing strong parts that can withstand functional testing. | White | |
Polycarbonate (PC) | Stratasys PC-ABS | A high-impact engineering thermoplastic ideal for functional prototyping, tooling, and low-volume production. | Black | |
Polycarbonate (PC) | Stratasys PC-ISO | A biocompatible, heat-resistant thermoplastic suitable for food packaging, medical, and pharmaceutical applications. | White | |
Polyetherimide (PE) | Stratasys ULTEM® 1010 | The strongest FDM material, offering the highest tensile strength, chemical resistance, and thermal resistance. | Natural | |
Polyetherimide (PE) | Stratasys ULTEM® 9085 | A high-performance material that features a high strength-to-weight ratio and high thermal and chemical resistance. | Natural, Black | |
Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) | Stratasys Antero 800NA | A PEKK-based material with excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and low outgassing characteristics. | Natural | |
Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) | Stratasys Antero 840CN03 | A high-performance PEKK-based electrostatic dissipative (ESD) material that's strong and a lighter alternative to metal. | Black | |
Polylactic acid (PLA) | Prusa Polymers Prusament PLA | Offers strength and heat resistance ideal for low-cost, quick rapid prototyping in a wide range of colors. | Black, White, Blue, Red | |
Polyphenylsulfone (PPSF/PPSU) | Stratasys PPSF/PPSU | Combines high strength with heat and chemical resistance for demanding functional testing and production applications. | Natural | |
Sacrificial Tooling Material | Stratasys ST-130 | Engineered for sacrificial tooling applications for easy creation of hollow composite parts. | Black | |
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) | Stratasys TPU 92A | Provides the flexibility needed to prototype large, complex elastomer parts with stretch, abrasion, and tear resistance. | Black |
Description | Notes |
|---|---|
General tolerances and design guidelines apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified. | |
General tolerance | ± a single build layer thickness for the first inch, and ± 0.002″ (0.0508 mm) for every inch (25.4 mm) thereafter |
Build size | Up to 24″ x 36″ x 36″ (609.6 x 914.4 x 914.4 mm) |
Layer height [less than 16″ (406.4 mm)] | 0.010″ (0.254 mm) layers [0.008″ (0.2032 mm) for PLA] |
Layer height [greater than 16″ (406.4 mm), up to 36″ (914.4 mm)] | 0.013″ (0.3302 mm) layers |
Minimum wall thickness | 0.047″ (1.1938 mm) for parts less than 16″ (406.4 mm), 0.060″ (1.524 mm) for parts greater than 16″ (406.4 mm) |
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