What is FDM 3D Printing?
How FDM works
Filament feeds from a spool through an extruder into a hot nozzle. The nozzle melts the plastic and the printer moves the nozzle (or the bed, or both) to lay down a thin line of plastic. Each layer cools and bonds to the layer below. The 3D object emerges layer by layer over hours.
FDM vs other 3D printing
- FDM: melted filament, biggest variety of materials, lower resolution
- SLA / MSLA / resin: UV-cured liquid resin, very high resolution, single material family
- SLS: laser-sintered powder, industrial scale, harder for hobby use
- Bound metal: print metal-binder mix, sinter in a furnace, niche hobby tier
FDM strengths
- Cheap to run and learn
- Large build volume options
- Dozens of material types
- Functional engineering parts
- Outdoor and weather-resistant prints
Browse FDM filament
All FDM filament at Siddament. Related: Resin vs FDM.