Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is the process we started with and the one we owe our name to – and to this day it is the most affordable process 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 price calculator works out the price straight away: just upload your 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 a single piece – housings, covers, brackets, model making. None of our other processes comes close to this build volume.
Wall mounts, adapters, brackets, cable guides. Light and inexpensive with 20 % infill, solid and load-bearing 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 the balcony.
The volume discount applies from a cart value of €50; combined with the low material price, FDM is the most economical choice for batches of simple parts.
Where FDM reaches its limits
So that you don’t order the wrong process, we also tell you what FDM is not built for:
The 0.15 mm layers are visible and can be felt. For presentation models and visible surfaces without post-processing, 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.
FDM is very strong along the layers, less so across them. Parts that are loaded from several directions are better served by SLS printing.
Need support structures, which leave marks. The price calculator shows the support requirement 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, ready for painting | fine-grained matt | layer lines visible |
| Strength | depending on resin: brittle to tough | high, equal in all directions | high, lower between the layers |
| Support structures | always – removed afterwards | none | depending on shape |
| Build volume | 200 × 125 × 210 mm | 159 × 159 × 295 mm | 360 × 360 × 360 mm |
| Materials | 8 resins | Nylon PA12, TPU 90A | 54 filaments in 9 families |
| Colours | 4 standard colours, transparent | natural white, black on request | more than 40 |
| Price level | medium | medium | lowest |
| Typical uses | figures, presentation models, casting patterns | functional parts, spare parts, moving assemblies | large parts, housings, brackets, small batches |
The materials at a glance
We print on Prusa printers with filaments sourced exclusively from Europe. Why this matters to us and exactly what stands in the workshop is covered under Machines and materials.
| Material | Properties | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| PLA (11 colours) | Bio-based, stiff, dimensionally accurate, the cheapest material. Low heat resistance. | Display models, decorative items, housings without heat exposure |
| PLA Plus (6 colours) | Tougher than PLA, less brittle. Also available 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 generate heat |
| ASA (7 colours) | UV- and weather-resistant, heat-resistant. | Outdoor use, 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 stressed parts |
| PETG V0 | Flame-retardant (V0). | Housings with fire-protection requirements |
Not sure which material fits? The material finder asks about the intended use and makes a suggestion. And the price calculator on the home page compares the prices of all three processes immediately after upload – with an AI recommendation to go with it.
Finishing and accessories
Brass threaded inserts from M2 to M10 are heat-set into the printed part – for screw connections that hold. The price calculator detects suitable holes in the model.
Closes the layers and makes the part water- and dirt-repellent.
For ASA, PETG, Green TEC Pro, PCTG and PETG V0 – for parts that stay outdoors permanently.
How your order works
Either directly in the FDM price calculator or via the instant price comparison on the home page, which puts FDM alongside SLA and SLS. We convert STEP and IGES on the server.
The price calculator checks wall thickness and build volume, selects the right printer, orients the part and shows the price.
The price is binding. No quotation, no follow-up questions, no waiting.
Support structures are removed, the part is checked and packed. The delivery date is already shown in the cart.
What printing costs
The price is based on material consumption, print time, material and quantity – not on a flat rate. A hook costs a few euros, a housing correspondingly more; a lower infill saves considerably on solid parts. There are no set-up charges; a minimum order value of €3 applies to the order as a whole.
10 % from a cart value of €50, 15 % from €100, 20 % from €200 – applied automatically in the cart.
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, invoice with VAT shown separately.
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 by us 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 are printed in segments for gluing together.
Yes, the 0.15 mm layers are visible and can be felt – less so with matt colours, more so with glossy ones. For visible surfaces without lines, SLA is the right process.
PLA for anything that doesn’t get warm and doesn’t live outdoors. PETG for functional parts and spare parts. ASA for outdoors. ABS for heat. The material finder and the AI recommendation in the price calculator help with the decision.
Very strong along the layers, less so across them – which is why the price calculator orients the part so that the main load lies in the layer plane. For loads from all directions we recommend PA12 from SLS printing.
Yes. Brass heat-set threaded inserts from M2 to M10 can be added in the price 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 need it sooner, select express shipping there.
To Germany and 26 other 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 details matter, the SLA printing service is the right choice: 0.05 mm layers, eight resins. If the part has to withstand loads from all directions, the SLS printing service: polyamide without support structures. The overview of processes puts all three side by side.