Comparing different 3D-printing technologies

Choosing the proper additive technology for our project is essential if we want it to seriously compete with other production techniques. That’s why we are about to discuss all of them in detail now.

Fused deposition modeling

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is the cheapest additive manufacturing process and, therefore, is the most common technology used by small companies and hobbyists.

In the following diagram, we can find a basic simplification of the process:

Figure 14.7: The FDM process

First, the printing material is supplied via a large spool of plastic filament (1). This filament is then forced into a hot end extruder (2) that melts the plastic and deposits a thin layer of material on the build plate (3).

Note that the interior of the part (4) is not solid, so by using this technology, it is possible to create a honeycomb infill. This type of infill pattern reduces the overall weight...