Fused Filament Fabrication

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Fused Filament Fabrication is a method that draws each layer and stacks them by extruding resin from the heated nozzleA nozzle is a component that extrudes filament (resin) and prints it on the stage. and changing the relative position between the stageA stage is the foundation on which moldings are printed in a 3D printer. and nozzleA nozzle is a component that extrudes filament (resin) and prints it on the stage.. We’ll introduce the feature and printing process of Fused Filament Fabrication on this page.

Table of Contents

Basic Information
Printing Process
Features
Gallery
References

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Basic Information

The table is the basic information list of Fused Filament Fabrication.

ISO standards	Material Extrusion
Aliases	FFF, FDM
Cost	Inexpensive
Performance	A little bit not good

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Printing Process

How can we print 3D objects with Fused Filament Fabrication?

Melt filament

We can make objects by putting filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle. into a heated nozzleA nozzle is a component that extrudes filament (resin) and prints it on the stage. installed in the 3D printer. The 3D printer melts the filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle. and prints an object. It looked like a 3D printer was painting a picture.

Place: Dengiken's club room

▲FilamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle.

Extrude filament and print a layer

The 3D printer puts the melted filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle. on the stageA stage is the foundation on which moldings are printed in a 3D printer. by moving the stageA stage is the foundation on which moldings are printed in a 3D printer. and nozzleA nozzle is a component that extrudes filament (resin) and prints it on the stage. to the XY axes. The filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle. will be solidified by air outside and form a solid layer.

Place: Dengiken's club room

▲Picture of printing layers made with a 3D printer.

Stack each layer

The 3D printer stacks each formed layer by moving the stageA stage is the foundation on which moldings are printed in a 3D printer. and nozzleA nozzle is a component that extrudes filament (resin) and prints it on the stage. to Z-axis while printing the filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle..

Place: Dengiken's club room

▲Picture of stacking layers made with a 3D printer.

The thickness of each layer is called layer resolutionLayer resolution is the thickness of each layer of the 3D model. The smaller the thickness is, the more accurate the printing will be. and the value determines the performance of the 3D printer.

When overhangsAn overhangs is an area in a modeling object that is floating in the air without support. Support structures is required when printing moldings. (floating) happen, we make support structuresSupport structures is a pillar printed between the hollow part (overhang) and the stage to prevent extruded filaments from floating during modeling. for printing. Then, we remove them after we finish printing.

Place: Dengiken's club room

▲Picture of removing support structuresSupport structures is a pillar printed between the hollow part (overhang) and the stage to prevent extruded filaments from floating during modeling..

In the case of a dual extruderA dual extruder refers to a printer with multiple heads. It is used in Fused Filament Fabrication and MultiJet Printing and can use multiple resins at the same time. 3D printer, we can remove support structuresSupport structures is a pillar printed between the hollow part (overhang) and the stage to prevent extruded filaments from floating during modeling. more cleanly by using water-soluble filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle..

Place: 3D Solution Center

▲Water-soluble filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle. (BVOH)

This is how Fused Filament Fabrication prints 3D objects.

Trivia - Chapter of filament -

Do you know there are many kinds of filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle.?

PLA(Poly-Lactic Acid)

PLA is made from agricultural products, which are weak. But they don't emit strange smells and can be handled easily. The filamentsFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle. are more inexpensive than other types.

ABS(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)

ABS is the most common filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle., like PLA. Warping often happens because ABS has a high heat shrinkage rate. However, ABS is very sturdy and inexpensive compared to other types.

PETG(Polyethylene terephthalate glycol)

PETG is made from the resin used in plastic bottles and improved for a specific purpose. Adjusting temperature while printing is difficult, but PETG is excellent in terms of hygiene and thermal resistance.

TPU(Thermoplastic Polyurethane)

TPU is a rubber-like filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle., which is difficult to use. The advantage is we can print flexible and resilient 3D objects.

Place: 3D Solution Center

PLA

Place: 3D Solution Center

ABS

Place: 3D Solution Center

PETG

Place: Dengiken's club room

TPU

▲Picture of objects made from each resin

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Features

We will introduce the features of Fused Filament Fabrication.

Merits

High safety

Fused Filament Fabrication is safe as the filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle. are not harmful. The disadvantage is the nozzleA nozzle is a component that extrudes filament (resin) and prints it on the stage. becomes very hot. However, you don't have to worry if you use a printer model with a cover.

Low cost

Compared to other methods of printing, we can purchase printers at a low cost. FilamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle. are also affordable. Fused Filament Fabrication has a significant advantage in the long run.

Can print big objects

Place: Dengiken's club room

Using Fused Filament Fabrication, we can create bigger and heavier objects than Stereolithography

Stereolithography is a method that draws each layer and stacks it by solidifying liquid resin with a UV laser.. The device prints from the bottom, and there is little effect on its weight. The picture shows an example of objects made with the device: a trophy that consists of a foundation, column, and figurine.

Various choices

Since its expiration in 2009, manufacturers have developed various kinds of products, and we have various choices of products. The prices vary from cheap ones to expensive ones.

Full-color printing

Some products of this type can print full-color objects by painting CMYKCMYK refers to the four colors cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. They are used as primary colors to represent full color in subtractive mixing such as printing. ink on each layer.

Place: 3D Solution Center

▲Full-color objects

Demerits

Surface become rough

Fused Filament Fabrication has some disadvantages, such as rough surfaces and low resolution caused by the layer resolutionLayer resolution is the thickness of each layer of the 3D model. The smaller the thickness is, the more accurate the printing will be..

Place: 3D Solution Center

▲The picture shows the different resolutions caused by the layer resolutionLayer resolution is the thickness of each layer of the 3D model. The smaller the thickness is, the more accurate the printing will be..

Warping

Warping is one of the disadvantages of Fused Filament Fabrication. Distortion happens when filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle. are solidified. How much the objects distort depends on what kind of filamentFilament is a tubular resin used in the Fused Filament Fabrication, which can be wound onto a reel and is easy to handle. we use.

Conclusion

Fused Filament Fabrication is mainstream as a home-use 3D printerA home-use 3D printer is one intended for personal purchase. Although home-use 3D printers are less precise than industrial-use printers, they are less expensive, with some printers costing less than 50,000 yen. because it is safe, we can buy printers at a low cost, and we have a lot of choices.

Although Fused Filament Fabrication has the disadvantage of printing quality, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages as the printers are affordable, etc..

These are the features of Fused Filament Fabrication.

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Gallery

We will show some pictures of Fused Filament Fabrication and its printed objects.