Technology & Materials
Fused Deposition Modelling
Bring your designs to life with robust, production‑ready FDM parts...
What is Fused Deposition Modelling and how does it work?
Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is one of the most accessible and widely used 3D printing technologies, trusted for everything from early‑stage design verification to functional prototypes. It uses thermoplastic materials available in a variety of colours, offering rapid turnaround and dependable mechanical performance.
FDM builds parts by heating and extruding a polymer filament through a fine nozzle. The printer deposits this softened material layer by layer onto the build platform, where each layer cools and solidifies to form a strong, durable structure. This process delivers parts with good dimensional stability, heat resistance, and strength suitable for many prototyping and end‑use needs.
Because certain geometries require support, FDM printers use a secondary sacrificial material, dispensed via a second nozzle. Once printing is complete, the support structure is removed using a simple detergent‑based dissolution process—leaving a clean, ready‑to‑use part.
Material versatility
A wide range of thermoplastic materials can be used with FDM to match your project’s performance, aesthetic, and colour requirements, making it a flexible choice across industries.
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ULTEM™ 9085
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ULTEM™ 1010
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NYLON 12 CF
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NYLON 12
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ASA
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ABS-M30
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ABS-ESD7
ULTEM™ 9085
Ideal for Production‑grade Components and Advanced Functional Prototypes
- Flame-retardant high-performance thermoplastic perfectly suited to end-use applications
- Pioneering material well suited to the transportation industry due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and FST rating (Flame-Smoke-Toxicity)
- Ideal for end-use production grade parts in the aerospace, marine vehicle and automotive industries
- Other applications include advanced functional prototypes without the cost or lead time of traditional tooling
ULTEM™ 1010
The Industry’s Strongest Thermoplastic for Extreme Environments
- The strongest and most durable thermoplastic on the market
- Designed for superior heat/chemical resistance and the ability to withstand steam autoclaving
- Available in a general-purpose grade, as well as a certified grade (CG) for those customers who want to take advantage of food-contact and bio-compatibility certifications for specialised applications (including food production tools and custom medical devices)
- This high-performance material is also ideal for aerospace and automotive applications
NYLON 12 CF
High‑Strength Carbon‑Filled Thermoplastic for Lightweight 3D Printing
- A carbon-filled thermoplastic with structural characteristics that make it one of the strongest thermoplastics in the FDM material range
- An ideal substitute for metal components where light weight and strength is paramount
- Chopped carbon fibre comprises 35% of the weight, blended with Nylon 12 polymer, which results in the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio and flexural strength.
- Particularly useful for strong but lightweight tooling applications and functional prototypes in the aerospace, automotive, industrial and recreational manufacturing industries.
NYLON 12
A Versatile Material with Excellent Isotropic and Snap‑Fit Performance
- Nylon 12 has excellent isotropic properties
- Ideal for applications which require repetitive snap fits, high fatigue resistance, strong chemical resistance and press (friction) fit inserts
- Primarily used in aerospace, automotive and consumer goods industries. Take on everything from tooling, jigs and fixtures to covers, panels and vibration resistant components
ASA
Best‑in‑Class Surface Finish and UV Stability for Consistent, Attractive FDM Parts
- Typically used to create jigs and fixtures for the assembly of electronic components. Also used for functional prototypes of fuel storage and delivery products, as well as electrical casings, enclosures and packaging
- ASA has the best surface finish of all the FDM thermoplastics
- Outstanding UV stability and mechanical properties that match or exceed FDM ABS
- An excellent material for manufacturing consistently high-quality parts
- Boasts a wide range of UV stable colours which produce attractive parts suitable for all applications.
ABS-M30
High‑Strength FDM Thermoplastic for Durable Prototypes and End‑Use Parts
- 25-75% stronger than the standard FDM ABS material
- Ideal for any stage of manufacture, from concept modelling to functional prototyping, from jigs and fixtures to end-use parts
- Offers greater tensile, impact and flexural properties than standard FDM ABS
- Layer bonding is significantly stronger than FDM ABS
- Produces a more durable part that is well suited to realistic functional tests and high-quality end-use applications.
ABS-ESD7
Reliable Protection Against Static Shock for Precision Electronics
- Ideal for electronic products which contain electronic hardware such as enclosures
- Durable and electrostatic-dissipative thermoplastic
- Prevents a build-up of static electricity, to eliminate potential for static shock
- Typically used to create jigs and fixtures for the assembly of electronic components
- Also used for functional prototypes of fuel storage and delivery products, as well as electrical casings, enclosures and packaging.
