Material Extrusion Lab Material Extrusion (ME) AON M2+ 254x254x254mm (10x10x10 in) build volume Ability to print PLA, ABS, TPU, ASA, and ABS-CF10 Each material is available in a myriad of colors Layer thickness down to 0.127mm (0.005in) Please ask for currently available materials and colors What is Material Extrusion? Material extrusion goes by several names including fused deposition modelling (FDM), fused filament fabrication (FFF), and fused granular fabrication (FGF). The basic principle for polymer material extrusion is to melt polymer feedstock and extrude it through a nozzle onto a build platform. The feedstock can be in the form of filament strands that are wound around a spool or granulated pellets that are fed to the extruder via a hopper. The liquid polymer cools as it exits the nozzle and solidifies, allowing the material to be selectively deposited. The cross section of the part is traced by the extruder for a given layer, and the process is repeated by lowering the build platform. ME Advantages Wide range of material options Hollow internal cavities are possible Low waste ME Considerations Support structures are required for overhangs that exceed 45 degrees Layers tend to be pronounced, causing rough external surfaces Feature sizes should be on the order of 1.0 mm for the best results Avoid printing large flat plates parallel to the build plate to avoid excessive warping
