Despite the advances of other technologies, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) remains the go-to 3D printing process for prototypes and simple plastic parts.

It’s fast, it’s cheap, and there are thousands of filament options to account for projects of all kinds. When people talk about 3D printing , they’re often talking about FDM.

But there are limitations to extrusion-based printing technologies. While FDM is a highly effective and versatile process, it has often lagged behind comparable technologies — Stereolithography, SLS, etc. — in terms of surface finish.

Layer lines can be severe, and FDM parts aren’t always usable when taken straight from the print bed.

Fortunately, FDM parts don’t have to remain in their as-printed form. There are several professional post-processing techniques that can be used to remove layer lines, improve the overall surface finish of a part, or even add color and other aesthetic features. It might not sound […]

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