fdm - filament printing

FDM 3D printing involves heating up a length of plastic wire, or filament, and pushing it though a small nozzle. The nozzle is moved around a flat surface to create a layer of plastic. The plastic cools quickly, then the nozzle repeats the process on top of the previous layer, until the entire part is formed.

• Wide range of materials

• Wide range of colours and finishes

• Affordable and accessible

• Excellent for rapid prototyping

• Strong and durable parts

• Great for functional and decorative applications

Our most common use cases for FDM printing are:

• Prototyping

• Functional parts

• Educational Models

• Home decor and customisation

• Cosplay and Props

• Arts and crafts

Our FDM printers can print surface features as small as 0.1 millimeters and can achieve an accuracy of +/- 0.1 millimeters per 100mm length of part.

Filament prints are strong when loaded across layer lines, and weaker when loaded along layer lines (similar to wood grain), so it is important to share the application of the part with us before ordering.

In general, FDM is cheaper than SLA printing because it requires less set up and minimal part clean up once done. Because FDM printing works by extruding plastic, the cost scales linearly with the amount of material used. I.e. 2 parts will likely be double the cost of one part. Minimum order is $20.

If you would like a large batch of parts made, we will often offer a reduced per-part price.

If you’re still unsure about whether FDM printing is right for you, send us an email with as many details as you can and we’ll help find the right process and material for you.