Additive Technology: FFF
Fused Filament Fabrication
FFF is our most popular print process. It’s mainly used for high strength parts, functional prototypes, manufacturing fixtures and small batch production.
Description
FFF is similar to FDM technology, material is extruded and parts are created layer by layer, but it also allows us to add a continuous fiber reinforcement to the inside of a part.
Strengths
Incredibly strong, composite parts, with high detail, smooth surface finish and dimensionally stable materials.
Weaknesses
Support marks may be visible, limited base materials and colors available.
Base Materials
Onyx or Nylon
Reinforcement
Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, Fiberglass or HSHT Fiberglass
Price
$$$$$
Lead Time
1-2 Days
Tolerances
± 0.5 mm
Min Wall Thickness
0.4 mm
Min Fiber Wall Thickness
1.0 mm
Max Build Volume
330 x 270 x 200 mm
( 12.9 x 10.5 x 7.8 in )
Resolutions Available
50 Micron – 0.05 mm
100 Micron – 0.1 mm
125 Micron – 0.125 mm
200 Micron – 0.2 mm
Advantages of FFF
Performance Parts On-Demand
We print composite parts using a continuous fiber reinforcement that provides a better strength-to-weight ratio than machined aluminum.
Industrial Strength Materials
Explore FFF Materials
Below is a list of materials we offer for Fused Filament Fabrication.
ONYX
Base Material
Onyx is 40% stiffer than ABS and provides the foundation for composite printing. It can be printed on its own or reinforced with any of our continuous fibers.
CARBON FIBER
Fiber Reinforcement
Carbon Fiber is our stiffest and strongest fiber. It has superior stiffness and minimal deflection, making it strong enough to replace aluminum at half the weight.
FIBERGLASS
Fiber Reinforcement
Use fiberglass reinforcement to print parts that need to be stronger than our standard plastic materials, such as ABS or HIPS, but at the most affordable price possible.
NYLON
Base Material
Nylon is a non-abrasive material that can be stiffened with any of our continuous fiber options. It’s a versatile material both with and without fiber reinforcement.
KEVLAR
Fiber Reinforcement
Kevlar has low density and high durability, which makes it great for applications that involve a lot of motion or require a fixture to interface with production parts.
HSHT FIBERGLASS
Fiber Reinforcement
With superior heat resistance and similar flex strength to carbon fiber, HSHT fiberglass is ideal for applications requiring high heat, elasticity and impact resistance.