FDM 3D Printer: 5 Advantages You Should Know

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is one of the most widely utilized 3D printing technologies, employing polymeric pharmaceutical drugs as printing material that is melted by a printhead and extruded onto platforms to build layers of an object.

Enalapril maleate was used as the model drug to study the degradation of its thermo-sensitive peptidomimetic structure during the FDM printing process, with results showing that using larger nozzle diameters and faster printing speeds to limit heat exposure could prevent degradation.

1. Printing speed

Printing speed in an FDM 3d printer refers to the rate at which its print head moves along the X, Y, and Z axes to create three-dimensional objects.

When choosing models to print, this factor plays an essential role; its duration and precision determine the overall printing process and resultant object.

Based on the type of model being printed, it may be necessary to modify print settings to increase printing speed.

This is accomplished using slicer software which adjusts dimensions before creating G-code files that the printer can use to build physical objects.

Slicer software provides users with the means to optimize the print process and increase productivity on their 3D printers, saving both time and money in the process.

Furthermore, Slicer ensures compatibility between model and printer to reduce errors or failures during printing; furthermore enabling customization for improved results with Cura and PrusaSlicer as potential options.

2. Materials

The material used in an FDM 3d printer is one of the primary factors determining its output quality.

Different printing materials have different properties that may alter their mechanical performance when printed out; as such, an ideal printing material must be determined for specific applications.

Material used in an FDM 3d printing process typically comprises plastic filament, which is then fed through a machine that heats and extrudes it layer by layer onto a print bed.

Depending on the printer type chosen, various kinds of materials such as ABS or PET might also be available – depending on what material type suits best!

FDM 3d printers typically utilize standard plastic filaments available from numerous suppliers.

These materials typically come in two standard diameters of 1.75mm and 2.85mm to make sure they work with most machines, though there are also specialty materials like metal composites and ceramics which require additional equipment and may cost more.

4. Printing accuracy

FDM printers use filaments of the colored plastic wound on spools and extruded through an open, heated metal nozzle to deposit onto a print bed where they harden and cool to form your design – this process is known as layering; all printed parts will exhibit visible layer lines.

Quality 3D prints depend on various factors, including printing speed, materials used, and printer model.

Fast printing speeds may result in poor layer bonding and decreased mechanical strength while low-quality printers may produce parts with higher void content that could cause premature failure and reduced mechanical properties.

This study evaluated the accuracy of ten casts printed by six 3D printers using low-viscosity resin.

Accuracy evaluation included shell-to-shell deviation, linear angular height deviation, and surface characteristics via FE-SEM analysis.

DLPa printer demonstrated superior shell-to-shell trueness values compared to LCD printers regardless of XY resolution resolutions.

5. Cost

FDM 3D printers come in all sorts of prices, from affordable office machines costing several hundred dollars up to industrial-grade machines for manufacturing facilities that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some well-known brands include Creality, Anycubic, and Stratasys.

Most 3D printers feature a basic screen with buttons and dials that enable users to select files to print from an SD card and make adjustments, and also provide some basic settings adjustments.

More sophisticated printers may include multi-color touch screens for an easier user experience.

Many 3D printers include OEM-supplied software known as Cura, which supports most major 3D printing technologies and can be easily utilized and provides advanced features.

Cura’s main drawbacks are its memory requirements and its lack of regular updates.

PrusaSlicer, an open-source program created by Prusa Research’s team, is another popular 3D printer software solution.

Compatible with most FDM 3D printers and providing various advanced features, PrusaSlicer may prove difficult to navigate due to its minimalist design.