Reader Response Draft 1

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Brooks (2023) informs that Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) uses slicing software which translates the design into instructions for the printer. A filament, usually made of Polylactic Acid (PLA) or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is heated, and is placed in layers onto a print bed. The object forms when each layer hardens. A feature is that FDM printers are more affordable compared to other 3D printing technologies, making them widely available to hobbyists and industries. FDM can utilize a variety of thermoplastic materials with many being environmentally friendly. Protolabs Network (n.d.) describes that material versatility allows users to switch their choice of material depending on the properties they would like to achieve. During production, FDM can achieve fast printing speeds and is relatively easy to operate. Finally, FDM technology enables the creation of intricate shapes and designs that would be difficult or impractical to achieve otherwise (Engineering Product Design, 2024).

With its distinct features and functions, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) can replace traditional manufacturing methods in certain areas of today’s industry: rapid prototyping, customization, and production of spare parts. Despite that, the precision and accuracy of a product made by traditional manufacturing methods outperforms its counterpart printed by FDM.

Unlike traditional manufacturing methods, FDM is ideal for rapid prototyping. “Rapid prototyping (RP) quickly creates a physical part directly from its CAD model data using various manufacturing techniques” (Engineering Product Design, 2024, para. 1). Compared with a traditional method: Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machining, the time to produce a similar prototype is much slower due to a long setup time and numerous machining steps required. Ye (2019) supports that the machining centers suffer increased material costs because of rising material consumption. Shortening the development cycle and production costs, FDM’s faster iterations and adjustments makes it more suitable for prototyping.

Additionally, FDM allows for on-demand production of spare parts that can benefit various industries such as healthcare, aerospace and automation. With this additive manufacturing method, it helps to reduce the necessity for large inventories and shorten lead times. Additive3D Asia (n.d.) states that components made by traditional manufacturing typically need more time because molds are essential to aid this process. These molds are also expensive, meaning that  the cost needed for production is increased. Hence, as FDM does not require the need of molds, production costs can be reduced.

However, there are limitations in the surface finishes and tolerances for FDM where traditional manufacturing methods can improve on. Since FDM products tend to have layer lines being perceptible, post-processing is crucial for a smooth finish (Engineering Product Design, 2024). The layer lines also result in variation of the accuracy of the dimensions which may not meet quality requirements. Using Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machining instead, it can achieve “tight tolerances, repeatability, and a high-quality surface finish” (RallyPrecision, n.d.). This makes traditional manufacturing techniques more suitable in applications where precision and aesthetics are important.


References

Daniel. B. (2023, July 6). FDM 3D Printing: Ultimate Guide. Explore3DPrint. 

https://explore3dprint.com/fdm-3d-printing-ultimate-guide/

Engineering Product Design. (2024, June 21). Material Extrusion – Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM).

https://engineeringproductdesign.com/knowledge-base/material-extrusion/#google_vignette

Engineering Product Design. (2024, June 7). Rapid prototyping.

https://engineeringproductdesign.com/knowledge-base/rapid-prototyping-techniques/

Protolabs Network. (n.d.). What is FDM (fused deposition modeling) 3D printing?

https://www.hubs.com/knowledge-base/what-is-fdm-3d-printing/#how-does-fdm-3d-printing-work

Ronan. Y. (2019, July 18). What is CNC Prototype Machining and How Does it Work? 3ERP.

https://www.3erp.com/blog/prototype-machining-pros-and-cons-of-cnc-for-prototyping/

Additive3D Asia. (n.d.). A Brief Overview of Traditional Manufacturing and 3D Printing.

https://additive3dasia.com/news/traditional-manufacturing-3d-printing/

RallyPrecision. (n.d.). CNC Machining: Everything You Wanted to Know.

https://www.rallyprecision.com/what-is-cnc-machining/


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