Glossary → 3D printing (FDM)
3D printing (FDM)
Definition
3D printing is a manufacturing technique that builds an object layer by layer from a digital 3D model. In FDM, the most common method, the printer melts plastic filament and deposits it in thin layers.
This creates a physical object straight from a file, with no mould or tooling upfront. That makes it ideal for prototypes, custom parts and small runs: you don't pay for expensive start-up costs, and your design can still evolve between prints.
Related terms
- Infill — Infill is the internal, usually partly hollow pattern inside a 3D print.
- Supports — Supports are temporary props a 3D printer prints under overhanging parts that would otherwise hang in mid-air.
- Brim — A brim is a thin border printed around the first layer of a 3D print to improve adhesion to the print bed.