Journey through 3D Printing - FDM

FDM Printing is probably the most commonly known method of AM ,
What I mean is if we say 3D Printing this is what most people think of.
but lets try to better understand what it actually is :
FDM is an acronym for Fused Deposition Modeling , this is however a trademarked name by Stratasys inc.
so in a more correct term to use would be FFF , Fused Filament Fabrication.

This is the process of building your 3D CAD model that has been sliced into layers by Melting the Filament that normally comes in Spools or rolls and then laying them down layer by layer and building the part from the bottom up.
It is a technology that was developed by Scott Crump near the end of the 1980's and was finally commercialized in 1990.

To take a deeper look at the process I will try explain it :
As with most AM techniques you start off with a 3D CAD model, normally a .stl file format that is Sliced and setup on software that is specialized for the Printer you are going to use with all the parameters depending on your intended outcome.
this Software outputs a .g code (or similar) that is fed into the Printer giving it the instruction set it needs to Print your part.
now the printing process itself involves the material getting unwound from the spool or roll and fed to the Extruder and out the Nozzle onto the Print bed at a controlled rate.
In the Extruder head itself there is normally the Drive gear to pull (or push for Bowden type extruders) the material from the roll into the Hot-end where the material gets melted and finally gets pushed through the nozzle into the Build chamber,
The Extruder Head then places the material down Layer by Layer to build the part from the bottom up.
It does this by moving around the Build Area along the X and Y Axis, being controlled by a Computer numerically Controlled  (CNC) System and the bed lowers slowly as the part gets built on top of each layer.
So after our first Stop at FDM we will continue our Journey through 3D Printing with another Printing Techniques next time.
If you have any more interesting Questions or Comments please leave one below
​