Fused deposition 3D printing (FDM or FFF)

Fused deposition 3D printing (FDM or FFF) is one of the most common additive manufacturing technologies, developed in the 1990s. It uses thermoplastic polymers, such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), in the form of filaments, which are heated, extruded and deposited layer by layer following a path programmed by a digital file. This process makes it possible to create three-dimensional objects, with the material solidifying after cooling. ABS is a lightweight, impact, chemical and abrasion resistant material. FDM 3D printing has applications in various industries, such as automotive, household appliances and toys (e.g. Lego), and is ideal for prototypes and low-cost models.