FDM
Thermoplastic filament, extruded layer by layer. Fastest turnaround, lowest cost per part, widest material range. The default for jigs, fixtures, and functional prototypes.
FDM
Fast, strong, cheap. The shop floor default.
Thermoplastic filament, extruded layer by layer. Fastest turnaround, lowest cost per part, widest material range. The default for jigs, fixtures, and functional prototypes.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) builds parts by melting thermoplastic filament layer by layer. Most cost-effective technology in our catalog.
When to choose FDM
Cost is primary driver
Engineering thermoplastics needed
Functional parts over cosmetic
Large build volume needed
Fast turnaround critical
Strengths
- + Lowest cost per part
- + 5 engineering materials
- + Largest build volume
- + Fastest turnaround
- + Tough thermoplastics
Limitations
- – Visible layer lines
- – Lower accuracy than SLA
- – Anisotropic strength
- – Support marks
- – Not ideal for fine detail
Technology specs
Quick compare
Recommended parameters when designing parts for FDM.
Post-processing
Standard finishing included with every FDM order. Optional services available on request.
Included (standard)
Optional (quoted separately)
Shipping & delivery
Every FDM order ships from our production facility in Brooklyn, NY. Lead time starts at From 1 business day. Enter your zip code to see exactly when parts will arrive at your door.
Same day, free. Brooklyn facility, Mon\u2013Fri 10am\u20135:30pm ET.
Same day across all five boroughs and northern NJ.
UPS Ground, 2nd Day Air, and Next Day Air. Tracked and insured.
PLA
General purpose, biodegradable. Rigid, good surface finish. Not heat or UV resistant.
PETG
Tough, chemical resistant, food-safe options. Good balance of strength and flexibility.
TPU
Flexible elastomer. Shore 95A hardness. Good for gaskets, grips, and vibration dampening.
ASA
UV and weather resistant. Ideal for outdoor applications and functional parts exposed to sunlight.
PC CF
Polycarbonate carbon fiber. High stiffness and heat resistance for demanding structural applications.
Applications
FDM is available on our and and and and services. Typical jobs:
Iterate on enclosures, brackets, and assemblies.
Test form, fit, function before committing.
Presentation-quality parts for demo day.
Keep shipping while your injection mold is being cut.
Production runs below the injection molding crossover.
End-use nylon parts without mold tooling.
On-demand spares for legacy products.
Iterate on enclosures, brackets, and assemblies without tooling.
Assembly line tooling printed and delivered in days.
Production-grade thermoplastics, working parts.
Oversized parts in a single print.
Iterate on enclosures, brackets, and assemblies without waiting for tooling.
Test form, fit, and function with production-grade materials before committing.
Presentation-quality parts that look and feel like the final product.
Validate tolerances, material behavior, and assembly flow at low volume.
Custom tooling for your production line — printed and delivered in days.
Parts that go directly into products your customers buy and use.
Fill gaps in your supply chain without retooling or long lead times.
Keep shipping while injection mold tooling is still being cut.
Hundreds to thousands of identical parts — no MOQ from a mold shop.
On-demand spares for legacy products without warehousing inventory.
Compare FDM with others
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| Spec |
|---|
| Build volume |
| Lead time |
| Tolerances |
| Support scarring |
| Level of detail |
| Price |
Other technologies
Tightest tolerances. Smoothest surfaces.
SLA at scale. Up to 1000mm.
Production nylon. No support structures. Isotropic strength.
The biggest parts we build. Up to 1200mm.
Ready to start production?
Upload your CAD file and get a quote in minutes — or talk to our engineers about your next production run.