Fused Deposition Modeling and Polyjet 3d printing services are two technologies offered by Stratasys Direct Manufacturing. The melted thermoplastic filament is ejected from an FDM printer's print head. After being shaped into a bead, the material is quickly cured by the equipment's high temperatures and stacked in layers. The machine head iteratively extrudes and melts material to build up the component.
In contrast, the PolyJet method involves a carriage jettisoning photopolymers onto a work area before they are cured by ultraviolet radiation. Once the first layer has been generated, the procedure is repeated by jetting further layers on top of it. Parts made by each method will have their unique qualities according to the technique and materials used.
Extrusion
Layer-by-layer construction is the hallmark of both Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and Polyjet printers. However, the means by which they do this vary considerably. Polyjet 3d printing services uses liquid polymers blasted onto the printer bed, while FDM 3D printers heat a thermoplastic filament to form layers.
Extruding a continuous bead of semi-molten material, FDM printing uses a coil of fine thermoplastic coiled on a spool. As it cools and solidifies, it adds another layer to the model, which is one of many.
Analyzing Product Uses
For inexpensive and practical components, FDM is the method of choice. Prints from this service may be helpful as prototype representations of thicker, more straightforward pieces but cannot be utilized for precise mechanical evaluation.
PolyJet is more costly and best used for aesthetic and functional purposes such as pre-tooling design inspections, grip/oversold validation, flexure testing, and assembly feature testing. PolyJet components may stand in for both aesthetic and functional details in prototype and display models if they are hand-finished and painted.
Constancy And Reliability
Compared to models made with polyjet 3d printing technology, FDM models are more durable. FDM models may be created to resist higher temperatures and more demanding working conditions and environments than Polyjet models, depending on the material used in their construction. “The result can often be stronger than a Polyjet model,” Tyrtania said of FDM printing. “And where Polyjet parts can sometimes minutely change shape over time, an FDM product will be more dimensionally stable.”
However, there are drawbacks, the most glaring of which is that an FDM 3D printer's layer thickness could be more precise than Polyjet printing. Polyjet printing eliminates visible layers and provides for smoother surfaces on curves, slopes, and gradients than FDM. Because of this, FDM printing is best for producing functional components rather than decorative ones.
Polyjet technology, which employs jetted liquid polymers, is notable for the high quality of the finished product. Realistic, glossy surfaces and minutely rendered features are all possible thanks to this method. Polyjet printing service may be stiff or flexible, full color or transparent, or even medically compatible, depending on the material. Since the final look of consumer items and electronics is so crucial, Polyjet has become the tool of choice for idea and form models.
Dimensions of a Piece
Consider the size of your component when you choose your technology selection. Maximum component size from a single system is comparable for polyjet 3d printing process and FDM, with PolyJet allowing for pieces up to 39.3 x 31.4 x 19.6 in. and FDM allowing for parts up to 36 x 24 x 36 in.
