FDM ( Fused Deposition modeling)
FDM is a 3d printing technology which uses plastic filament ( in thread/wire form) as the raw material. This filament is extruded from nozzle of the 3d printer layer by layer to obtain the finished product. It is also know by the name FFF ( Fused Filament Fabrication).
This Process was founded in the 1980's.
FDM 3d printers come with different movement mechanisms like Cartesian, Core XY, Delta etc. Depending upon your application we can guide you with the appropriate FDM movement mechanism best suited for your application.
FDM 3D Printing Parameters
Build Volume : The size of the object to be 3d printed depends upon the build volume of the FDM Machine. General rule of thumb suggests a build volume of 300X300X300 mm. There are other industrial grade FDM Machines as well for catering to the dimensions higher than that mentioned above.
Layer adhesion: Layer Adhesion is a very important parameter for getting successful 3d prints. It depends on several factors like build plate temperature, nozzle temperature, z level distance, speed and flow.
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These are some beginner level parameters that can help you understand more about the technology
Layer Height and line width: Layer Height is the height of material extruded. This Directly affects the quality of the 3d print. Smaller layer heights lead to better quality but increase in 3d printing time. On the other hand increased layer heights and line width also play a critical role for making stronger products so the layer height also depends upon the application. The general rule recommends 0.2 layer height and 0.4 line width with a 0.4 nozzle.
Support Structures: Support structures play a big role as they are a part of the object being printed. Supports are required where there is no base for the part to be printed upon. The general rule of thumb allows for 45- 55 degrees angle that can be printed without supports depending upon the machine.
Temperature and speed: Different polymers come with different melting points therefore it is recommended to have the material specification sheet and set nozzle and bed temperatures accordingly. The speed can also affect the temperatures therefore it is recommended to set it as 50-100 mm/s.
Infill: Infill is the amount of material that you want to add to the part. You can make the part heavy or light depending upon the application. There are also different infill patterns for different applications. For example gyroid can provide properties where part is strong from all directions. Triangle infill can help with strong infill bonds.