3D Printing/Printer Types

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)

FFF printers operate by melting material from an extruder to produce a 3D object.

FFF printers are known for being easier to use than other printing technologies, partly due to requiring less safety equipment for operation. Cartesian FFF 3D printers work by moving an extruder along an X, Y, and Z, axis.

On Stratasys 3D printers the name FDM is used for the same technique.

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  A Prusa i3, a common cartesian FFF 3D printer. Cartesian 3D printers have a cuboid build area.
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  A Fisher Delta RepRap 3D Printer. The build area on a delta printer is a cylinder with a conic top.

Stereolithography (SLA)

SLA printers use light to solidify a special liquid.

Unlike an FFF printer, SLA printers build time is based on height and not the number of prints or object complexity, so the entire x and y build area can be used for prints with no impact on printing time. Unlike FFF printers, SLA printers typically print upside down, though this has little tangible effect on the final print. SLA printers can be difficult to operate.

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  A Formlabs Form2 SLA 3D Printer.
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  Form 2 curing equipment. SLA prints require curing following the print process.

Selective laser sintering (SLS)

SLS works by fuzing powders together with a laser to create 3D objects.

Uniquely, SLS printers requires no dedicated support structures for complex geometries.

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  An SLS 3D Printer.