A short beginner's guide to FDM printers

Text: Martin Björk Published: February 2, 2024

In this text, we will try to explain a few different concepts, terms and different techniques that are on the market today.

There are lots of names and different techniques, but it's not as complicated as it sounds - most of them are pretty similar to each other.

If we start with the machines they use plastic wire, i.e. the majority of printers. These printers are also the easiest to handle, smell less during operation and, with the right materials/knowledge, can create fantastic prints. Some of the most popular printers right now come from the well-known Bambu Lab and Creality.

Some examples of abbreviations you will come across when looking for printers are:

• FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)
• FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
• LPD (Layer Plastic Deposition)

The techniques above have different names, but actually do the same thing and that's what we're going to look at now. A printer takes a solid plastic wire, melts it and lays it out on a build plate, simple right? But we will take it from the beginning and if you want to know more about different printers, don't hesitate to contact 3D Prima who will help you find the right one.

"If I want to draw something myself? Is it difficult or not?"

The first step is the actual object you want to print. You either create it yourself or download a ready object. Getting started and drawing in 3D is actually easier than you might think.

Examples of software for designing yourself are:

• 3D Builder
• Fusion 360
• Blender
• Sketchup

 "Okay, but how do I find something to print then, if I don't want/can't draw myself?"

If you are not interested in drawing yourself and just want to get started quickly, there are websites where there are already tens of thousands of different objects, free to download and free to print. Some of these are:

• Thingiverse
• Myminifactory

Once you have a finished model, either self-created or downloaded, it is time to open it in the preparation software, a so-called slicer. This software is always included with the printer, so you don't have to think about buying or downloading it yourself.

It is in the slicer that you prepare your prints, just as you would if you were to print a photo in a regular printer. You decide the resolution, speed, etc. Just like in a regular printer, the higher the resolution you print in, the longer it takes.

What the slicer does is that it divides, or slices, the object into thin layers. When you then transfer the file to the printer (usually with a memory card) it's time for the printer to simply put all these layers back together so that the object comes out completely.

The plastic used is called Filament and is available in many different types of material. 3D Prima offers a very large range of different filament types. The filaments from Prima Creator are very popular as with these filaments you get very high quality at a good price.

The most common filament is PLA and it is also what will be used in this example. The filament is delivered on rolls of different weights. You load the filament into your printer and set the correct temperature in your preparation software.

The printer will then lay out small "strings" with great precision on the build plate. These small strands are laid out on top of each other and during this time the material is very hot, for PLA it is around 210°C. These different layers of filament are held together thanks to the heat and as the print cools, a dense, strong and very beautiful surface has been created.

The build surface itself can consist of different materials, the most common today is PEI with a slightly rougher surface that makes the print stick better and stay in place. When the print is later finished and has cooled, PEI has another advantage, namely that the print can be removed very easily from the plate. In the past, it was common to have to use a lot of force and some type of tool - this then also caused the print itself to break.

If you want to feel extra secure, you can use one of the different types of fastening material that you can find in the web shop. These are available in different variants depending on the material you print with. For common standard materials, PrimaFix works perfectly. A thin layer is applied to the build plate and it acts as a protective layer between the building plate and the print - the print adheres better and is easier to remove.

If you use other materials to print with, such as nylon, it is best to use a variant that is made for the purpose. Here, Magigoo is one of the leading manufacturers.

In the next part, we will explain a little more about how resin printers work.

Good luck with your prints, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us on 040-684 97 90 or email info@3dprima.com and we will help you.