Adoption of 3D Printing has grown rapidly as it is the fastest, most affordable, and widely used method of prototype creation. Also known as Additive Manufacturing (AM), these technologies continue to gain popularity with an increasing number of firms investing in the industry.
There are many AM technologies and one of the most popular is Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is one of the most common and widely used process due to its lower start-up and material costs and reliability.
What is Fused Deposition Modeling?
FDM 3D printers work by extruding thermoplastic filaments such as ABS, PC, Ultem and many more through a heated nozzle. The material is laid layer by layer on a build platform until the part is complete. All that is needed to start is a CAD file. With the use of a slicer software, the CAD file is converted to a format that can easily be understood by the printer before the process begins.
FDM makes use of two building materials: the modelling build material and the support material. The build material constitutes the finished object. The support material is used as a scaffolding to support the object being printed. This material is removed and disposed to reveal the final printed part.
Most common modeling materials in FDM are ABS, Nylon 11/12, PC, PC/ABS, PEEK/PEKK, Ultem and TPU. Materials come in all types of colors. These parts print in production-grade material which make them ideal for functional prototypes and end-use parts.
Printing in this process allows for the light weighting of parts by using an adjustable sparse infill structure. This also reduces overall print time and material consumption.
The Benefits of Using our Services
FDM 3D Printing is a popular service because:
1.Speed
Depending on the size of the part, printing in FDM can be as quick as a few minutes due to the ease of use and high printing speeds. Within minutes, you can have your CAD drawing turned into a 3D printed part. FDM is one of the fastest and most agile choices in AM.
- Affordability
One of the biggest challenges faced by the 3D printing industry is affordability. Due to FDM’s high availability and cost-effective way of producing custom thermoplastic parts and prototypes, it has quickly become a reliable and affordable printing method. Additionally, the ease of use, low post-processing time and large build volumes help reduce costs.
3. Workflow & Ease of Use
The workflow of FDM printing is simple and consists of three steps: designing, print and post-process. Once a CAD file is created with the use of CAD software, it is ‘sliced’ with the printer’s slicing software. This software will send the information to the printer for printing.
This process does not require much post processing. The operator will need to simply remove the support material from the part upon completion.
- Durable Materials
FDM printers can print a wide range of thermoplastic engineering materials and high-performance filaments in various colors, including ABS, Nylon 11/12, PC, PC/ABS and TPU. There are materials to suit most manufacturing applications.
Where to Find FDM 3D Printing Services in Ottawa
If you are interested in high quality AM services or purchasing a professional 3D Printer in Ottawa contact Agile Manufacturing Inc.
