Fused Filament Fabrication vs. Material Jetting
Delve into the nozzle-based additive manufacturing technologies, encompassing fused filament fabrication and material jetting. These cutting-edge technologies have a broad range of applications across various industries. By understanding and harnessing the capabilities of these advanced technologies, you will uncover a myriad of opportunities for innovation and development in manufacturing and beyond.
Fused Filament Fabrication
Fused filament fabrication is an innovative additive manufacturing process that uses a nozzle to build three-dimensional parts layer by layer using thermoplastic filament. This cutting-edge process has revolutionized manufacturing, offering greater precision and efficiency in producing both complex solid and partially hollow objects. Fused filament fabrication allows for the creation of intricate designs and the use of a wide variety of materials, opening up numerous possibilities for engineers, designers, and manufacturers across various industries, such as aerospace and automotive. One such notable material is Ultem9085, an extremely high-temperature, chemical-resistant, and flame-retardant material. This technique is essential for fields that require precision and quality.
Material Jetting
Material jetting is a sophisticated additive manufacturing technique that involves the precise deposition of liquid material droplets layer by layer to build intricate 3D objects. This versatile technology allows for the fabrication of complex geometries using a wide range of materials: solid materials of multiple colors, rubbers of different shore hardnesses, and a mix of both in a single print. The process enables the production of parts with exceptional surface finishes and high dimensional accuracy. It is an invaluable tool for creating detailed prototypes, small-batch production runs, applications demanding multiple colors and materials, and intricate, custom designs.
Comparing these nozzle-based technologies.
Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and Material Jetting are popular 3D printing nozzle-based techniques. FFF uses a heated nozzle to deposit thermoplastic filaments, such as PLA and ABS, in layers; meanwhile, Material Jetting employs inkjet-like printheads to deposit droplets of material. This technology, also known as drop-on-demand (DOD) 3D printing, can print various materials like polymers, ceramics, and metals, producing intricate shapes and structures with great accuracy and precision.
Material Jetting is well-liked in the aerospace, automotive, and healthcare industries due to its ability to create complex geometries and high-quality, detailed objects. Additionally, it can produce multi-material and multi-color parts in a single print run. Understanding the differences between these two techniques is crucial to achieving the best results. Knowing the strengths and limitations of each method can help determine the optimal approach for specific project needs, whether for prototypes or finished products.
Both FFF and Material Jetting have their unique advantages and disadvantages. Parts created using FFF are typically solid and durable, while Material Jetting can produce parts with a smooth surface finish and high resolution. Consequently, both techniques are ideal for rapid prototyping, small-batch production, and creating complex geometries.
Nozzle-Based Technologies in a Glance
Fused Filament Fabrication
OEM: Stratasys
Max Build Area: 36 x 24 x 36 in
Lead Time: 1 – 5 Days
Materials: ABS-ESD7, ABS-M30, ASA, Nylon 12CF, PC-ISO, Polycarbonate (PC), Ultem 1010, and Ultem 9085. Other materials may be available upon request.
Tolerances: First inch ± 0.005 in and additional inches ± 0.002 in/in.
Layer Thickness: Standard 0.010 in also available 0.005, 0.007, and 0.013 in.
Material Jetting
OEM: Stratasys
Max Build Area: 19.3 x 15.4 x 7.9 in
Lead Time: 1 – 2 Days
Materials: Agilus30, Digital ABS Plus, Tango Black, VeroClear, VeroBlackPlus, VeroWhitePlus, VeroCyan, VeroMagenta, VeroYellow, VeroGrey. Other materials may be available upon request.
Tolerances: First inch ± 0.004 in and additional inches ± 0.0015 in/in.
Layer Thickness: Standard 0.0006 in also available 0.005, 0.007, and 0.0012 in.
Fused Filament Fabrication
Material Jetting
OEM
Stratasys
Stratasys
Max Build Area
36 x 24 x 36 in
19.3 x 15.4 x 7.9 in
Lead Time
1 – 5 Days
1 – 2 Days
Materials
Other materials may be available upon request.
Other materials may be available upon request.
Tolerances
First inch ± 0.005 in
Add. inches ± 0.002 in/in
First inch ± 0.004 in
Add. inches ± 0.0015 in/in
Layer Thickness
Standard: 0.010 in
Also available: 0.005, 0.007, and 0.013 in
High-Quality: 0.0006 in
High-Speed: 0.0012 in
