FDM 3D Printing Service
Fast, reliable, cost-effective prototyping and production
About FDM 3D printing
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a powerhouse in 3D printing. With materials ranging from consumer plastics in every RAL color to metal-replacing polymers for aerospace and medical use, FDM can fit almost any project. Combined with RapAdd MFG's proprietary end-to-end automated production lines, it doesn't matter if you need a single prototype or 10,000 end-use parts—we'll deliver within days at a price once unheard of in additive manufacturing.
Sample Applications
Jigs and Tooling
Quickly develop and deploy custom jigs and tools for your production line. With our automated FDM production line, we can deliver large volumes of jigs and tools in just one day.
Rapid prototyping
When developing a new product, speed and time to market are everything. With FDM printing from RapAdd, you'll meet deadlines without breaking the bank.
Mass Production
Whether you need one, 100, or 10,000 units, our automated FDM production lines can produce your items in days with no upfront tooling costs.
Automated Production Workflow
Fully Automated Production Pipeline
Automated file analysis and optimization for printability
The print job is queued to the next available machine
Your items are printed. Automatically. No humans involved
Automated support removal and surface finishing
Quality inspection using computer vision systems
Packaging and dispatch
Advantages & Limitations
Advantages
- Low-cost production for prototypes and mass production alike
- Short lead times allow quick iteration during prototyping
- Wide range of materials including engineering plastics
- Real-time production monitoring and quality control
Limitations
- Visible layer lines may require post-processing for smooth finishes
- Support structures needed for overhangs and complex geometries
Available Materials
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Sample Prints
Design Guidelines
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
Layer-by-layer plastic extrusion technology
Min Wall Thickness (Unsupported)
1.2 mm
Min Wall Thickness (Supported)
0.8 mm
Min Feature Size
1.0 mm
Min Hole Size
1.5 mm
Tolerances
±0.3 mm (±0.15 mm with post-processing)
Min Letter Size
2.0 mm height, 0.6 mm depth
Min Pin Size
3.0 mm diameter
Max Overhang
45° without support
Layer Height
0.2 mm
Technology Comparison
Compare our additive manufacturing technologies across key performance metrics to choose the best solution for your project requirements.
Technology Performance Matrix
| Criteria | FDM | SLA | DLP | SLS | Polyjet | DMLS/SLM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per Part | $ | $$ | $$$ | $$ | $$$$ | $$$$$ |
| Surface Quality | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Accuracy | ±0.3mm | ±0.15mm | ±0.1mm | ±0.2mm | ±0.1mm | ±0.15mm |
| Material Variety | Very High | Medium | High | Medium | High | Limited |
| Build Volume | Large | Very Large | Small | Medium | Medium | Small |
| Support Required | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Post-Processing | Minimal | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Extensive |
| Multi-Material | Limited | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Ready to Start Your Project?
Upload your files now for instant pricing across all our technologies, or speak with our engineering team for a custom consultation.
Questions about which technology is right for your project?Contact our technical team