Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Services in the UK

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Over 50 Different Materials
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FDM 3D Printing Services

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a 3D printing technology widely known for its great material selection, accuracy, possibility to print large parts, and competitive cost. FDM parts are great for end-use, low-volume production, for rapid prototyping. FDM 3D prints usually do not require any post-processing.

Try Xometry Out Now In Just A Few Steps

Upload your CAD files

Multiple designs for different parts can be imported at the same time to produce a single quote. In less than a minute, a detailed cost estimation appears on the screen.

Choose the process

First, select the manufacturing process you require. You can then choose from over 55 materials and from a wide range of finishes and certifications.

Order your parts online

Once you have selected the required options, all you need to do is confirm the order and pay for it on the secure payment platform. Your design will be analysed by engineers.

Receive your parts

Within a short amount of time, you will receive the parts you ordered directly to your shipping address. You can track your package at any time in your personal account.

Advantages of FDM with Xometry UK

Massive Capacity

We can quickly produce both prototypes and large batches thanks to a large manufacturing network, with over 2,000 vetted partners.

Fast Production

You will get your 3D printed parts fast delivered in as fast as 8 days in the UK.

Quality Assurance

We have strong QA procedures, controlled by an in-house team of QA engineers, which allows us to deliver high quality parts. Xometry UK is ISO 9001 certified.

Engineering Check & Status Updates

All designs are checked by engineers before they’re sent for 3D printing. After confirming your order, you will receive status updates on your production.

FDM 3D Printing Materials

Rigid Plastics

ABS
ABS M30
ABS-ESD7
ASA
Nylon 12 / PA 12 (FDM)
Nylon 12CF / PA 12 carbon-filled
PC (Polycarbonate)
PC ISO (Polycarbonate ISO 10993 USP Class VI)
PC-ABS Polycarbonate
PEEK
PETG
PLA
ULTEM 1010
ULTEM 9085

Finishing Options

As-printed

FDM parts are built with support material that is removed during post-processing.
Final result:
- The part surfaces are left with fine layer lines
Custom

If you select a custom finish in the Instant Quoting Engine it will require manual review. Manual quoting usually 1-2 business days.

Notes:

Submitting for manual review with a custom request does not guarantee a quote.

Gallery of FDM parts

fdm-pla-frontsample-part-xometry

fdm-petg-as-printed-front-sample-part-xometry

fdm-asa-black-front-sample-part-xometry-scaled (1)

FDM ABS Blue 200 µm Layer Thickness

FDM Layer Height and Thickness Demonstration 2

FDM Infill Options

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a 3D printing technology that builds a part layer by layer by depositing heated thermoplastic along an extrusion path. In this process, there are several different ways the interior areas of a part can be interpreted when the part is built. Infill describes how those interior areas of a part should be filled in.

Xometry offers three types of infill options:

Ultralight FDM infill: Up to 20% infill density. Ultralight infill parts are filled with a single zig-zag pattern. This is the lightest and least expensive infill option
Light FDM infill: 20-50% infill density. Light infill parts are filled with a double cross-hatch pattern. This option provides increased rigidity and is lighter than a complete solid infill
Solid FDM infill: 50-80% infill density. Solid infill parts are filled for a higher density. This is the heaviest and more expensive option but offers the highest strength

From left to right in the picture, solid, light and ultralight FDM infill examples

FDM Layer Thickness Options

Layer thickness refers to the height of each layer added during the additive manufacturing or 3D printing procedure, where multiple layers are stacked upon one another to create the final product. For FDM, choosing your layer thickness is a critical parameter that directly impacts a part’s visual appearance, properties and printing time.

Xometry offers three layer thicknesses:

100 µm (Fine)
200 µm (Standard)
300 µm (Economy)

Comparison of the layer thickness of an FDM 3D print: 100 µm (left), 200 µm (middle), 300 µm (right)

Pros & Cons of FDM 3D Printing

Advantages	Considerations
Large platform: you can print very large parts using this technology	Needs support elements, which can leave undesired marks after removing them
A very wide selection of materials and colours: over 40	Sweats small details
Usually do not require any post-processing	Significant layer stepping
Fast: Xometry can deliver them in just 8 days	Limited scalability
Cheap: for non-complex geometries this option might be around 15% cheaper than SLS

FDM Manufacturing Specifications & Capabilities

	FDM	SLS	HP MJF	SLA	Carbon DLS	DMLS	Polyjet
Lead time	8 days	3 days	3 days	7 days	5 days	10 days	7 days
Build volume	• 350 x 350 x 350 mm (Standard) • 900 x 600 x 900 mm (Industrial)	up to 340 x 340 x 605 mm, but usually, we recommend the maximum size of 320 x 320 x 580 mm	up to 380 x 284 x 380 mm, while we normally recommend the maximum size of 356 x 280 x 356 mm	• 145 × 145 × 185 mm (Standard) • 736 x 635 x 533 mm (Industrial)	up to 119 x 189 x 300 mm. Recommended size: Within 100 x 100 x 150 mm	400 x 400 x 400 mm	up to 490 mm x 391 mm x 200 mm
Layer thickness	~0.05-0.3 mm	~0.1 mm and for water-tight parts 1.5 mm, when wall thickness is higher	~0.08 mm	min 0.02	~0.1 mm	0.02 – 0.08 mm depending on the material	0.04 mm
Minimum feature size	up to 0.2 mm	0.5 mm	0.5 mm	0.2 mm	0.5 mm	0.75 mm for cosmetic features, 1.5 mm for structural features	1.2 mm or greater for rigid. 2 mm or greater for rubber-like
Tolerance	±0,5% (±0,5 mm) (Standard & Industrial)	±0.3% (± 0.3 mm)	±0.3% (± 0.2 mm)	• ±0,5% (±0,2 mm) (Standard) • ±0,5% (±0,15 mm) (Industrial)	±0.1% (±0.1 mm). However, tolerances are not guaranteed on the first attempt at a new design.	±0.2% (±0.1 – 0.2 mm)	±0.1 mm for the first dozens of mm is typical, plus ±0.05 mm for every mm thereafter
Description	Widely known for a great material selection, accuracy, and possibility to print large parts	One of the most popular and inexpensive technologies for industrial 3D printing	A technology that produces highly accurate and durable parts at fast speeds, especially compared to other powder bed fusion technologies	A technology that produces extremely accurate and high-resolution parts	A breakthrough technology that uses digital light projection, programmable liquid resins, and oxygen-permeable optics to produce parts with exceptional durability, resolution, and surface finish	Metal 3D printing technology. Selectively fuses a fine metal powder in aluminium or stainless steel	Polyjet is a rigid photopolymer 3D printing technology that produces high-detailed models
Support structures	Yes, for overhanging features	No	No	Yes, for overhanging features	Yes, for overhanging features	Yes, for overhanging features	Yes, for overhanging features
	Read more about FDM	Read more about SLS	Read more about HP MJF	Read more about SLA	Read more about Carbon DLS	Read more about DMLS	Read more about Polyjet