A FDM 3d printer works by extruding a filament through a hot nozzle, it makes layer by layer on the bed to create a three-dimensional object. In a FFF or FDM 3d printer plastic filament is used as a raw material. Plastic filament is a thin wire of plastic, typically having a 2.85 mm or 1.75 mm diameter. This is the main distinction of a fdm printer from other 3d printers.
FFF is fused filament fabrication and FDM is fused deposition modeling both are the same process but some brands call it as FFF and some call it as FDM. This can be useful for branding purposes.
Parts of FDM 3D Printer
basic parts of a FDM 3d printer are frame, bed, extruder, hotend and control panel. Below is the brief description of all these parts:
#1. Machine Frame: Frame is the main structure of the machine on which all other parts are fixed or assembled.
#2. Extruder: It is the assembly of a few components like gear, idle wheel, stepper motor, extruder frame etc which pushes the filament to the hot-end.
#4. Bed: The machine bed is the base on which the product is made. It can be a heated bed. A heated bed means it has the ability to get heated so that the mterial sticks well to it.
#3. Control Panel: Control panel consists of a few components like display, button, knob etc to control the machine.
#5. Hot-End: This is the assemlby of heat block, heat sensor, thermistor and nozzle. This is the place where filament is melted and then pushed through the nozzle, so that the desired product is made.
#6. Stepper Motors: Stepper motors are conrolled via a digital code or program to create motions such as moving x, y and z axes and extruder to do 3d printing.
#7. Filament: Filament is not a part of this machine but it is much required as it is the raw material for making the final product.
I have written a dedicated article having a detailed list of 3d printer parts. Read it here: 3d printer parts list
Best FDM 3D Printers
The criteria for choosing the best machines are – stability, accuracy, flawless design, and build quality.
Recently, Babmu Lab has developed an FDM 3d printer that has revolutionized the whole 3d printing industry. The name of this model is the Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D Printer. This machine is capable of printing multi-color (four color) 3d prints. Key features are as follows:
- Multicolor Printing
- Auto Bed Levling
- Pre-assemled
- No calibration required
- Plug & Play
- Print From App
A1 mini costs around Rs.55000, which is very affordable. These features are not available in any other FDM printer in this price range.
FDM Printer Explainer
In this short video below, the fdm 3d printing is explained through animation. Please watch this video below:
FDM 3D Printer Price In India
DIY 3D Printer Kit available in india and there price are as follows:
| DIY Kit | Price (In rupees) |
| Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D Printer | Rs.54,999 |
| Creality Ender 3 | Rs.15,000 |
| Creality Ender 3 Pro | Rs.19,000 |
| Creality Ender 3 S1 | Rs.38,500 |
| Creality Ender 5 | Rs.35,000 |
| Creality Ender 5 Pro | Rs.40,000 |
| Creality Ender 5 Plus | Rs.50,000 |
| Creality Ender 5 S1 | Rs.48,000 |
| Creality Ender 6 | Rs.49,000 |
| Creality Ender 7 | Rs.42,000 |
| Anycubic Kobra 2 | Rs.24,000 |
| Anycubic Kobra 2 Neo | Rs.14,800 |
| Anycubic Kobra 2 Plus | Rs.42,300 |
| Flsun Q5 | Rs.29,300 |
FAQ’s
How much does a fdm 3d printer cost?
DIY 3d printer kit starts from Rs.12000 and go upto Rs.250000. A pre-assembled plug and play fdm printer starts from Rs.90000.
Do FDM printers use a lot of electricity?
It depends on the size of the 3d printer. Industrial printers may use a lot of electricity. On the other hand small fdm printers or hobbyist printers use about 150 watt.
Can a 3d printer print holes?
Yes, holes can be 3d printed in almost any design. It is very normal to print designs having holes in them. These holes can be used for various pruposes like screwing, bolting, connecting other parts etc.
3D Printers In Your City:
3D Printing Services In Your City (Prototyping Service):