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Rapid Prototyping - Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Direct Digital Manufacturing
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Fused deposition modeling, which is often referred to by its initials FDM, is a type of rapid prototyping or rapid manufacturing (RP) technology commonly used within engineering design to produce rapid prototyped plastic parts for visual representation. The technology was developed in the late 1980s and was commercialized in 1990.
Like most other rapid prototyping processes (such as 3D Printing, wax printing and stereolithography) FDM works on an "additive" principle by laying down material in layers as opposed to material removal processes like CNC machining. A plastic filament or metal wire is fed from a coil and supplies material to an extrusion nozzle which can turn on and off the flow very accurately. The nozzle is heated to melt the material and can be moved in both horizontal and vertical directions by a numerically controlled mechanism, directly controlled by a Computer Aided Design software package. In a similar manner to Stereolithography, the model is built up from layers as the plastic hardens immediately after extrusion from the nozzle.
Several materials are available with different trade-offs between strength and temperature. As well as ABS polymer, the FDM technology can also be used with polycarbonates, polycaprolactone, polyphenylsulfones and waxes. FDM is a very low cost method of producing rapid prototyped plastic parts.
New technology now available through this portal uses FDM 3D printing to deposit metal powder filled polymer for direct printing of plastic moulding tools.
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