FDM Technology

Introduction AM technologies are now widely being integrated into manufacturing operations in many industries. Adoption is, however, limited by the performance capabilities of any given technology and the extent to which it can deliver dependable and repeatable performance. To this end, manufacturers seek to fully characterize the performance of their equipment, software, and material so that uncertainty and risk is removed. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is one such AM technology that is finding swift adoption by manufacturers for its simple workflow and outstanding range of permissible materials, enabling the highest levels of mechanical performance. The process is inherently simple. Thermoplastic materials are melted and extruded into ‘beads’ along a toolpath defined by the part geometry, in a layer-by-layer fashion. ...