Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Services

Fused Deposition Modeling is an affordable and easy-to-use additive manufacturing technology. Combined with its cost-efficiency and short end-to-end lead times, this is a highly flexible 3D printing process with various materials available.

How FDM Works

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), or Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), produces parts from thermoplastics.

The key to the manufacturing process is a heated, movable nozzle and plastic filament. The plastic material is heated inside the nozzle above its melting temperature and then extruded on top of the previous printed layer. After extrusion, the material cools down and fuses with the existing layers. Through the repetition of this process, the plastic part is finally manufactured.

FDM Use Cases

On the MakerVerse platform, FDM is typically used for rapid prototyping and functional prototyping, especially for visual and geometric assessments. In addition, it is also feasible to manufacture end-use parts with low-volume requirements. Specific use cases are jigs, fixtures, and parts for art, architecture, and model making.

FDM by the Numbers

Max Build Size
914 x 610 x 914 mm (standard size)

Lead Times

Starting at 6 days
Minimum Wall Thickness
1.0 mm (depending on material and geometry)
Standard Color
Various
Dimensional Accuracy
+/- 0.4% with a minimum of 0.4 mm

Key Feature: High-Performance Materials

FDM offers high-performance parts with high strength, toughness, impact resistance, and more.

The technology is also capable of printing flame-retardant parts. Parts made with these materials meet the high certification standards for specific industries, such as aerospace, rail, and electronics.

ULTEM 1010 and ULTEM 9085 are high-performance thermoplastics for FDM that are flame retardant. ​

Explore the key use cases for flame retardant polymers

3D printing in action

MakerVerse's know-how and experience in 3D printing was critical to the success and we are very happy that the parts came out perfectly. They helped us save time and effort by taking care of the production

Stephan Beyer

Co-founder and CFO at nFrontier

nFrontier logo

Source Industrial-Grade FDM parts

MakerVerse gives you the flexibility to source parts however you need. Get instant quotes and quickly order parts with on-demand manufacturing. Our team of experts will work with you for large or complex orders to develop, align, and supervise a manufacturing quality plan from start to finish.

On-Demand Manufacturing

  • Instant quoting and DFM checks
  • Short lead times
  • Fast and intuitive order placement

Production Orders

  • Expert support from end-to-end
  • Comprehensive manufacturing and quality plan
  • Guaranteed quality meeting advanced specifications

Available FDM Finishes

Color dyed

The plastic component is immersed in a water bath in the dyeing process. The resulting chemical reaction causes the dye to penetrate the part. Characteristics of this are a homogeneous color gradient and an unchanging but more scratch-resistant surface.

Painted

Painting can be beneficial to enhance the design of your printed part or to better evaluate a printed prototype.

Sanded

Sanding smooths the part and removes any obvious blemishes, such as support marks or blobs. The chosen sandpaper depends on the layer height and print quality of the part.

Sealed

The sealing process is performed with an aqueous solution to close the outer surface and fill in small pores. Depending on the part's geometry, the sealing solution is manually applied or through dipping.

Smoothed

In the smoothing process, the plastic component a chemical reaction reworks the part. The top layer of the component is dissolved by a medium in a solution bath, and the result is a very smooth surface

Popular Materials for FDM

What’s the best material for your project?
Use our interactive technology and material advisor to find out.

Didn't find the material you are looking for?

We are constantly expanding and you can request specific materials going beyond our current standardized offering. Simply select “Other Material” in the order process and provide us your desired specifications in the comment section.
 
You can also reach out to us with your specific material requests at any time under support@makerverse.com

Resources: Additive manufacturing with polymers

Let’s build together

Schedule a consultation with our specialists to kickstart your project.