FDM vs. DLP 3D Printers: Understanding the Difference

FDM and DLP are two different types of 3D printing technologies. FDM stands for fused deposition modeling and DLP stands for digital light processing.

FDM printers work by extruding a heated filament of plastic through a nozzle and depositing it layer by layer on a build platform¹². DLP printers work by projecting a UV light onto a vat of liquid resin and curing it layer by layer on a build platform¹².

Some differences between FDM and DLP 3D printers are:

• FDM printers are cheaper than DLP printers¹.
• FDM printers have a wider range of material colors than DLP printers¹.
• FDM prints can be stronger than DLP prints because they use solid plastic instead of resin¹.
• FDM printers can produce larger prints than DLP printers because they have bigger build volumes¹.
• DLP prints can have higher resolution and smoother surface finish than FDM prints because they use light instead of filament²³.
• DLP prints can be faster than FDM prints when printing complex or detailed models because they cure an entire layer at once instead of moving a nozzle across the layer²³.