3D Printing Glossary
Clear, one-concept definitions of key 3D printing and manufacturing terms. Each entry links to related guides and products.
DFM (Design for Manufacturing)
Design for Manufacturing (DFM) is the engineering practice of designing parts and products so they can be efficiently and cost-effectively manufactured at scale, minimising production issues before tooling or production begins.
Build Plate
The build plate (also called print bed or build platform) is the flat, heated surface on which a 3D printer deposits material layer by layer to construct a part.
Layer Adhesion
Layer adhesion is the bond strength between consecutive deposited layers in a 3D printed part, determining the part's structural integrity in the Z-axis (vertical) direction.
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), also called Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), is a 3D printing process that builds parts by extruding melted thermoplastic filament through a heated nozzle, depositing it layer by layer.
Filament
Filament is the thermoplastic material — typically supplied as 1.75mm or 2.85mm diameter spools — that FDM 3D printers melt and extrude to create parts layer by layer.
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