Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is the process we started with and that gave us our name – and to this day the most affordable one we offer. A printer lays down molten filament layer by layer; the result is a sturdy plastic part in one of 53 materials and more than 40 colours. At 360 × 360 × 360 mm we have the largest build volume of all three processes. The calculator prices your part straight away: just upload the file.
Key figures
When FDM is the right choice
FDM is the workhorse: wherever size, price or a particular colour matters, it is almost always the right answer.
Up to 360 mm edge length in one piece – housings, covers, brackets, model making. None of our other processes comes close to this build volume.
Wall mounts, adapters, consoles, cable guides. Light and cheap at 20 % infill, solid and strong at 100 %.
The broken hook, the missing lid, the gear cover – printed in PETG or ASA and often more durable than the original.
More than 40 colours, from signal red to bronze. No painting, no dyeing – the colour is in the material.
ASA is UV- and weather-resistant, Green TEC Pro more heat-resistant than PLA. For garden tools, vehicle parts and balconies.
The quantity discount starts at 50 pieces; with its low material price FDM is the most economical choice for series of simple parts.
Where FDM reaches its limits
So that you do not order the wrong process, we also say what FDM is not built for:
The 0.15 mm layers are visible and tangible. For presentation models and visible surfaces without rework, SLA printing is the better choice.
From 0.8 mm wall thickness, with a 0.4 mm nozzle. Miniatures, lettering and delicate structures belong on the SLA printer.
Along the layers FDM is very strong, across them less so. Parts loaded from several directions are better off in SLS printing.
Need support structures, which leave marks. The calculator shows the support demand on upload – we orient the part optimally ourselves.
FDM, SLA and SLS compared
The same key figures for all three processes we offer – the FDM column is highlighted. The other two are described in detail on their own pages: SLA printing service and SLS printing service.
| SLA | SLS | FDM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer height | 0.05 mm | 0.11 mm | 0.15 – 0.20 mm |
| Surface | very smooth, paint-ready | fine-grained matt | layer lines visible |
| Strength | depends on resin: brittle to tough | high, equal in every direction | high, lower across the layers |
| Support structures | always – removed | none | depending on the shape |
| Build volume | 200 × 125 × 210 mm | 159 × 159 × 295 mm | 360 × 360 × 360 mm |
| Materials | 8 resins | nylon PA12, TPU 90A | 53 filaments in 9 families |
| Colours | 4 standard colours, clear | natural white, black on request | more than 40 |
| Price level | medium | medium | the lowest |
| Typical for | figures, presentation models, casting patterns | functional parts, spare parts, moving assemblies | large parts, housings, brackets, small series |
The materials at a glance
| Material | Properties | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| PLA (11 colours) | Bio-based, stiff, dimensionally accurate, the cheapest material. Low heat resistance. | Display models, decor, housings without heat load |
| PLA Plus (6 colours) | Tougher than PLA, less brittle. Also on the XXL printer. | Large parts, brackets, model making |
| PETG (17 colours) | Tough and impact-resistant, chemical-resistant, slightly flexible. | Functional parts, spare parts, containers, brackets |
| ABS (4 colours) | Heat-resistant, easy to post-process. | Technical parts, housings that get warm |
| ASA (7 colours) | UV- and weather-resistant, heat-resistant. | Outdoors, vehicles, garden |
| Green TEC Pro (5 colours) | Bio-based, more heat-resistant than PLA, stiff. | Everyday objects, cookie cutters, brackets |
| ESD PLA | Electrically dissipative. | Brackets and housings for electronics |
| PCTG | Very tough and impact-resistant, stiffer than PETG. | Mechanically loaded parts |
| PETG V0 | Flame-retardant (V0). | Housings with fire-safety requirements |
Not sure which material fits? The material finder asks about the intended use and suggests one. And the calculator on the home page compares the prices of all three processes as soon as you upload – with an AI recommendation on top.
Finishing and accessories
Brass heat-set inserts from M2 to M10 are melted into the printed part – for screw joints that hold. The calculator detects suitable holes in the model.
Closes the layers, makes the part water- and dirt-repellent.
For ASA, PETG, Green TEC Pro, PCTG and PETG V0 – for parts that live outdoors permanently.
How your order works
Either directly in the FDM calculator or via the instant price comparison on the home page, which puts FDM next to SLA and SLS. STEP and IGES are converted on our server.
The calculator checks wall thickness and build volume, picks the right printer, orients the part and shows the price.
The price is binding. No quote, no follow-up question, no waiting.
Supports are removed, the part is checked and packed. The delivery date is already shown in the cart.
What the print costs
The price is derived from material consumption, print time, material and quantity – not from a flat rate. A hook costs a few euros, a housing correspondingly more; a lower infill saves a lot on solid parts. There are no set-up charges and no minimum order value.
10 % from 50 pieces, 15 % from 100, 20 % from 200 – applied automatically in the calculator.
Germany and EU €4.99, free from an order value of €75. Express shipping €11.00 in Germany, €14.50 in the EU.
all payment methods offered in the shop, with a VAT invoice.
Frequently asked questions about FDM printing
STL, OBJ, 3MF, STEP, IGES and BREP up to 256 MB. CAD formats such as STEP are converted into a printable mesh on upload.
Up to 360 × 360 × 360 mm on the XXL printer in PLA, PLA Plus or ESD PLA; all other materials up to 241 × 210 × 210 mm. Larger parts we print in segments for bonding.
Yes, the 0.15 mm layers are visible and tangible – less so in matt colours, more in glossy ones. For visible surfaces without lines, SLA is the right process.
PLA for anything that does not get warm and does not live outdoors. PETG for functional and spare parts. ASA for outdoors. ABS for heat. The material finder and the AI recommendation in the calculator help you decide.
Very strong along the layers, less so across them – which is why the calculator orients the part so the main load lies in the layer plane. For load from every direction we recommend PA12 from SLS printing.
Yes. Brass heat-set inserts from M2 to M10 can be added in the calculator; it detects suitable holes in the model automatically.
15 to 21 days from order to delivery. The exact delivery date is shown in the cart. If you are in a hurry, choose express shipping there.
To Germany and 26 further EU countries. Shipping costs €4.99 and is free from an order value of €75.
Alternatives to FDM printing
If surface finish and the finest detail matter most, the SLA printing service is the right choice: 0.05 mm layers, eight resins. If the part must bear load from every direction, the SLS printing service: polyamide without support structures. The overview of the processes puts all three side by side.