FDM

[matt111]

http://www.stratasys.com/NA/sys_fdmpolyJet.html

I dont know if anyone here is familar with FDM (fused deposition modeling), but for my team, it is a major timesaver. It was also a critical element in my team's Inventor Submission. While our Inventor model is not as detailed as some, we were able to use Inventor to directly design parts that were used on the robot. The FDM machine (our school owns a Stratasys MAXUM) can basically turn anything I make in Inventor into a physical piece made out of ABS plastic. We have been using this process to make parts used on the robot for two years now, and we may be looking to expand and offer our services to other teams. If you want more information or to see samples of how my team used the ABS plastic parts, come stop by the 1024 pit at St Louis, Boilermaker Regional, or Atlanta!