Fused Disposition
Modeling
"FDM"
(overview)
Fused deposition modeling, which
is often referred to by its initials FDM, is a
type of rapid prototyping or rapid manufacturing
(RP) technology commonly used within engineering
design. The technology was developed by S. Scott
Crump in the late 1980s and was commercialized
in 1990.
Like most other Rapid Prototyping processes
(such as 3D Printing and Stereolithography)
Fused Disposition Modeling works on an "additive"
principle by laying down material in layers.
A plastic filament or metal wire is unwound
from a coil and supplies material to an extrusion
nozzle which can turn on and off the flow. The
nozzle is heated to melt the material and can
be moved in both horizontal and vertical directions
by a numerically controlled mechanism, directly
controlled by a Computer Aided Design software
package. In a similar manner to stereolithography,
the model is built up from layers as the plastic
hardens immediately after extrusion from the
nozzle.
Several materials are available with different
trade-offs between strength and temperature.
As well as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
polymer, fused disposition modeling technology
can also be used with polycarbonates, polycaprolactone,
polyphenylsulfones and waxes. A "water-soluble"
material can be used for making temporary supports
while manufacturing is in progress. Marketed
under the name WaterWorks™ by Stratasys
this soluble support material is actually dissolved
in a heated sodium hydroxide solution with the
assistance of ultrasonic agitation.
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The term | Simple
