FDM Material Selection Engineering Grade Thermoplastics 3D Printing
Materials characterize manufacturing processes and manufacturing processes influence the material properties of the final product—additive manufacturing is no different. The technologies are identified by the materials they use and the quality of the output is controlled by the processing methods. In the case of fused deposition modeling (FDM), there is a wide range of industrial-grade thermoplastics with high-performance engineered options. Each has unique characteristics to consider, so to pick the right material, seek the best combination of material traits while placing priorities where they belong. As you review the many options versus other additive technologies like selective laser sintering (SLS) or multi jet fusion (MJF) with less to choose from, remember that FDM uses the same types of raw materials used in the injection molding process—leverage what you already know when it comes to a critical performance standard (e.g. chemical inertness) or personal preference (e.g. no-touch post processing). To read technical information about each material below, click on the link to access the material datasheet.
Many materials for FDM have a lot in common—Upload your files today for a service quote or request a machine demo to speak with an expert at Fathom about which material is right for your application—whether you place a service order with Fathom or want to bring an additive manufacturing system in-house.
White Paper Credit: Thermoplastics / / The Strongest Choice For 3D Printing—When Material Stability And Long-Term Performance Is Paramount By Fred Fischer Stratasys
