3D Printing FDM

3D Printing

3D Printers use high grade and high-performance thermoplastics, photopolymers, and metals that are historically used in engineering, and manufacturing processes. With our printers we can produce complex high-requirement parts in a fast and efficient manner. We do so whilst providing flexibility, responsiveness, and control that cannot be obtained with historical manufacturing processes. All produced parts have a smooth surface finish.
Systems 3D Offers a Variety of 3D Printing Technologies.

3D Printing FDM (FFF) – Fused Deposition Modelling

FDM is the process of extruding a thermoplastic filament over a heated a extrusion tip, and laying down the melted plastic in an organised pattern. As a result, creating functional and usable items. Following is a list of the materials we work in, and typical characteristics and applications for the respective materials.

Systems 3D 3D Printing Services explained in our concise flyer.

Nylon 12 – combines strength with excellent fatigue properties
- Is suitable for applications requiring:
  - Repetitive snap fits,
  - High fatigue resistance,
  - Strong chemical resistance
  - Press (friction) fit inserts.
  - Tooling, jigs and fixtures
  - Covers
  - Panels
  - Vibration resistant components
- Primarily used in:
  - Aerospace
  - Automotive
  - Motorsport
  - Consumer goods
  - Manufacturing of all types

ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) – ASA is now the most popular all-purpose FDM thermoplastic used for prototyping and for the production of functional end-use components. ASA exceeds the mechanical properties of ABS.
- Charteristics and Qualities:
  - Provides exceptional UV stability
  - As a thermoplastic it is very strong
  - Available in a wide range of colour and matte finish
  - Offers the best aesthetics of any FDM thermoplastic
  - Ideal for attractive prototypes
- Uses and Industries:
  - Consumer sporting goods
  - Tools and fixtures
  - Automotive components and accessories.
  - End-use parts
  - Outdoor commercial use
  - Infrastructure use

PLA (Polyactic Acid) – is a bio-plastic derived from corn and is a very popular filament among the “maker crowd” due to its relatively inexpensive price and biodegradability.
- Characteristics:
  - hard
  - strong
  - low rate of thermal expansion
- Suitable for:
  - consumer (non-industrial) based applications
  - prototypes
  - functional models not requiring to be able to function under stress or load
  - indoor decorative applications for home and commercial use

Polycarbonate ISO (PC-ISO) – an industrial thermoplastic, which in its raw state, is biocompatible (ISO 10993 USP Class VI) and can be gamma or EtO sterilized. It is a strong, heat-resistant engineering plastic.
- Commonly used in:
  - Food and drug packaging
  - Medical device manufacturing

Polycarbonate ABS (PC-ABS) – one of the most extensively used industrial thermoplastics in industry. This is because it contains a combination of properties from both materials both of which have properties that are desirable. PC offers heat resistance. ABS offers flexibility.
- Industries used in:
  - Automotive
  - Electronics
  - Telecommunications
- Applications:
  - Conceptual Modelling
  - Functional Prototyping
  - Manufacturing Tools
  - End-use Parts

Polycarbonate (PC) – lets engineers and designers combine the speed and agility of 3D printing with the reliability of the most widely used industrial thermoplastics. PC is a true industrial thermoplastic that creates strong parts that withstand functional testing.
- Widely used in:
  - automotive
  - aerospace
  - medical
  - coneptual modelling
  - functional prototyping
  - manufacturing tools
  - end-use parts (consumer & industrial)
  - many other applications
- Offers:
  - accuracy
  - durability
  - stability
  - superior mechanical properties to ABS and a number of other thermoplastics

FDM is Trademarked by Stratasys Corporation so many other companies need to use their terminology Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF).