The Guide to 3D Printing TPU
See why TPU is used for flexible, durable parts.
Fused Deposition Modeling is an affordable and easy-to-use additive manufacturing technology. Combined with its cost-efficiency and short end-to-end lead times, this is a highly flexible 3D printing process with various materials available.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), or Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), produces parts from thermoplastics.
The key to the manufacturing process is a heated, movable nozzle and plastic filament. The plastic material is heated inside the nozzle above its melting temperature and then extruded on top of the previous printed layer. After extrusion, the material cools down and fuses with the existing layers. Through the repetition of this process, the plastic part is finally manufactured.
On the MakerVerse platform, FDM is typically used for rapid prototyping and functional prototyping, especially for visual and geometric assessments. In addition, it is also feasible to manufacture end-use parts with low-volume requirements. Specific use cases are jigs, fixtures, and parts for art, architecture, and model making.
FDM offers high-performance parts with high strength, toughness, impact resistance, and more.
The technology is also capable of printing flame-retardant parts. Parts made with these materials meet the high certification standards for specific industries, such as aerospace, rail, and electronics.
ULTEM 1010 and ULTEM 9085 are high-performance thermoplastics for FDM that are flame retardant.
Co-founder and CFO at nFrontier
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Onyx is a micro carbon fiber filled nylon with excellent mechanical properties (strength, toughness) as well as chemical resistance.
Onyx is used in a variety of applications, both consumer and industrial. Its appearance and mechanical properties make it popular for end-use parts.
See why TPU is used for flexible, durable parts.
Improve designs, increase quality, and reduce costs when using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology.
See the best practices for successfully designing parts for L-PBF, including print orientation, designing supports, and more.
See the biggest advantages and disadvantages.