FDM — fused deposition modelling — is the most common form of 3D printing in consumer and small-business manufacturing. The process: a heated nozzle extrudes a thin bead of thermoplastic filament; the bead fuses to the previous layer as it cools; the part builds up bottom-to-top one layer at a time.
How an FDM module is made
- The CAD file describes the module geometry.
- Slicer software cuts the geometry into thousands of horizontal layers — typically 0.2 mm thick each.
- The printer heats a nozzle to ~210 °C and extrudes PLA filament.
- The nozzle traces each layer's outline and infill, layer after layer, for hours.
- The print cools, the part is lifted off the build plate, any support material removed, ready to ship.
What FDM does well
- Low-cost short runs. Single units or small batches at a unit cost the moulding world can't match.
- Geometry flexibility. Curves, internal cavities, branching structures — the printer doesn't care.
- Material variety. Same printer, different filaments. PLA for food contact; PETG for higher heat tolerance; TPU for flexible parts.
What FDM doesn't do
- Volume manufacturing. A 6-hour print can't compete with a 30-second injection-moulded part for tens of thousands of units.
- Mirror finishes. The layer lines are visible. Modu Drawer's modules are designed with the layer lines as part of the aesthetic, not against them.
- Dimensional precision below ~0.1 mm. Tight tolerances exist but aren't FDM's natural territory.
Why FDM fits drawer modules
Drawer-organiser modules need three things FDM delivers cleanly: short-run economics (each customer's drawer is unique), material flexibility (food-grade PLA), and geometry freedom (snap-lock feet, tilted spice racks, integrated grip features). The trade-off — heat sensitivity — is acceptable for kitchen drawers, where heat exposure is typically a wipe-clean spill, not a dishwasher cycle.