The Complete Practical Guide to FDM 3D Printing

Starting from nothing, this course will prepare you to use your own Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D Printer.

Course Summary

Since 2010, there has been a noticeable rise in consumer-level desktop 3D Printers' availability utilizing the Fused Deposition Modeling - FDM 3D Printing technology. Today, finding a desktop 3D Printer is becoming an expectation in every university, maker space, and community innovation center. They are also becoming widely available at very affordable prices that are as low as USD 200. This course dives deeper into the topic of FDM desktop 3D Printers. It covers the technology background, how to use an FDM 3D Printer, how to use the slicer software, the design considerations for printing with an FDM 3D Printer, and key considerations for purchasing a desktop FDM 3D Printer.

According to Emerge Research, the desktop 3D Pinter market size is expected to be worth USD 5,129.00 million by 2027.

Breakdown of the covered topics in this course:

1. What is Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D Printing and its history

2. The common parts of a desktop FDM 3D Printer

3. The journey to 3D Print apart from CAD to 3D printing

4. The major settings for a 3D model from a CAD software for 3D Printing

5. How to use the Ultimaker Cura slicer software to generate the G-code

6. How to export the G-code from the slider to the 3D Printer

7. How to extract the 3D print from the 3D Printer

8. The common post-printing processes

9. The major design considerations for printing with FDM

10. The major considerations for purchasing a desktop FDM 3D Printer

3D Printing Trends - Why Should you Learn 3D Printing?

As recently as 2016, the Global 3D Printing market was at about 8.3 billion US dollars. This number doubled by 2020, reaching 16 billion dollars, and is expected to reach 40 billion dollars by 2024. This growth is only expected to increase as the different 3D Printing technologies keep maturing. In addition to the growing market size, 3D Printing is expected to disrupt and transform many industries ranging from traditional manufacturing, supply chain, oil and gas, film and television, construction, fashion, aerospace, jewelry, medicine, and education.

The application of 3D Printing across sectors is expected to cut costs, produce lighter parts, increase manufacturing efficiency, innovate better and faster, and design and produce more complex objects. All this will radically improve many of our current practices and unlock future possibilities. With all this, getting familiar with 3D Printing and its landscape in terms of both applications and potential is becoming essential. This will allow you to capitalize on the 3D Printing technology to add value to your projects and business.

- Frequently Asked Questions

What is FDM 3D Printing?

FDM stands for Fused Deposition Modeling. Another similar technology is Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). Both are common 3D Printing technologies widely available at the consumer level. They work by melting and depositing thermoplastic on specific arrangements to form your design. You can think of it as an auto-moving hot-glue device

How does FDM 3D Printing work?

FDM 3D Printing works by melting thermoplastics through a hot nozzle, then arranging that melting plastic layer by layer to form a solid part. The movements of the 3D Printer forming the final part are governed by code that is generally referred to as G-code. G-code can be automatically generated using slicer software.

What are common FDM printing materials?

All FDM 3D Printers work by melting thermoplastics. Thus, plastics are the most common materials. More specifically, PLA and ABS plastics. However, the types of printable materials are increasing over time as the field develops further. Newer, less common materials include flexible TPU and many different composites.