The same filament process as FDM, on Bambu Lab desktop printers. Fast and cost-effective for prototypes and small runs, with 40 official filaments, from PLA to carbon-fibre nylon.
FFF and FDM are the same basic process: plastic filament is melted and laid down layer by layer. The real difference is the machine: FFF runs on desktop printers, FDM on industrial systems. Here, FFF means every Bambu Lab printer type, and FDM means our five industrial Stratasys systems.
Desktop printers are faster and cheaper per part, which makes them the right tool for a prototype you need tomorrow, another revision of a part that is still changing, or a small run of functional parts. When you need a large part, a certified material such as ULTEM, or the consistency of a production system, move to FDM.
FFF or FDM: the difference
| FFF — desktop | FDM — industrial | |
|---|---|---|
| Machines | Every Bambu Lab printer type | Five Stratasys systems, including a Fortus 900 |
| Largest build volume | 340 × 320 × 340 mm (H2S) | 914 × 610 × 914 mm (Fortus 900) |
| Materials | Bambu Lab’s official filament line | Stratasys engineering materials, including ULTEM 9085 and 1010 |
| Strengths | Speed, low cost per part, many colours and finishes | Large parts, certified materials, production consistency |
| Choose it for | Prototypes, revisions, simple jigs, small runs | Demanding end-use parts, aerospace, very large parts |
Not sure which one fits your part? Send a file and an engineer will recommend FFF, FDM, or a different process entirely.
How FFF works
A heated print head pulls thermoplastic filament from a spool, melts it and lays it along a precise path on the build plate. The layer cools and solidifies, and the next one is laid on top. Under overhangs the printer lays support material, either break-away or water-soluble (PVA), which is removed at the end.
What matters at the design stage
As in FDM, an FFF part is stronger along the layers than between them. For example, Bambu Lab’s datasheet gives PLA Basic a tensile strength of 35 MPa in the layer plane and 31 MPa in Z. Build orientation therefore changes the strength of the part, and on load-bearing parts we set it by the direction of the loads.
The printers we run
We run every Bambu Lab printer type. Build volumes as stated on Bambu Lab’s official spec pages:
| Series | Models | Build volume |
|---|---|---|
| A | A1 mini, A1, A2L | 180 × 180 × 180 mm (A1 mini) to 330 × 320 × 325 mm (A2L) |
| P | P1P, P1S, P2S | 256 × 256 × 256 mm (P1P, P2S) |
| X | X1-Carbon, X1E, X2D | 256 × 256 × 256 mm (X2D main nozzle: 256 × 256 × 260 mm) |
| H2 | H2D, H2D Pro, H2S, H2C | Up to 340 × 320 × 340 mm (H2S); dual-nozzle printing on the H2D: 300 × 320 × 320 mm |
FFF materials
We work with Bambu Lab’s full official filament line, and only with it. Figures below are from Bambu Lab’s datasheets: tensile strength in the layer plane (ISO 527) and HDT at 0.45 MPa (ISO 75).
| Family | Example | Tensile / HDT | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | PLA Basic | 35 MPa / 57°C | Prototypes and appearance models, in many colours and finishes |
| PETG | PETG Basic | 51 MPa / 71°C | Functional parts, water and UV resistance |
| ABS / ASA | ASA | 37 MPa / 100°C | Outdoor parts and warm environments |
| PC | PC FR | 60 MPa / 113°C | Protective casings, flame-retardant requirements |
| Reinforced nylon | PAHT-CF | 92 MPa / 194°C | Jigs, fixtures and mechanical parts |
| Advanced engineering | PPS-CF | 87 MPa / 264°C | Chemical exposure and high temperatures |
| TPU | TPU 95A HF, 90A, 85A | Flexible | Seals, shock absorbers, protective covers |
All 40 materials, each with its datasheet: FFF materials.
When FFF is the right choice
- A fast prototype — check form, fit and assembly before investing in the final version
- Several revisions of the same part — a low cost for every round of changes
- Simple jigs and fixtures — in fibre-reinforced materials when stiffness matters
- A small run of functional parts that fit a desktop build volume
- A particular colour or finish — matte, silk, wood, marble or translucent
And when something else is better
- A large part, ULTEM or an aerospace-certified material — industrial FDM
- A run of dozens or more in complex geometry — MJF
- Very smooth surfaces or fine detail — SLA or PolyJet
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FFF and FDM?
The process is the same — plastic filament melted and laid down layer by layer. The difference is the machine: FFF is printing on desktop printers, FDM is printing on industrial systems. We run FFF on Bambu Lab printers and FDM on Stratasys systems, which reach much larger parts and certified materials such as ULTEM.
Which materials can be printed in FFF?
Bambu Lab’s full official filament line: the PLA family and its finishes, PETG, ABS and ASA, polycarbonate (including flame-retardant PC FR), nylon and carbon- and glass-fibre reinforced materials, TPU in several hardnesses, and support materials including water-soluble PVA. We work only with Bambu Lab’s approved materials.
What is the largest part you can print?
Up to 340 × 320 × 340 mm on the H2S. Larger parts move to FDM, which reaches 914 × 610 × 914 mm.
Is an FFF part suitable for end use?
It depends on the material and the requirements. In the reinforced materials, Bambu Lab’s datasheets give a tensile strength of 92 MPa for PAHT-CF and 168 MPa for PPA-CF, in the layer plane. When a certified material, aerospace documentation or series-production consistency is required, we will recommend FDM or MJF.
Have a file? We will tell you whether FFF or FDM is the right choice
Send a STEP or STL and we will come back with a recommendation on technology, material and print orientation — including if the answer is that another process suits you better.
Indus3D is an additive manufacturing bureau in Israel, an approved supplier to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, AS9100D and ISO 9001 certified. Alongside five industrial Stratasys FDM systems, we run every Bambu Lab printer type for FFF.