What is the definition of Material Extrusion?

Material extrusion is defined as a process where material is dispensed through a heated nozzle. This technique is commonly used in additive manufacturing, specifically in 3D printing, where thermoplastic materials are melted and extruded layer by layer to create a three-dimensional object. The heating of the material is crucial, as it allows the usually solid material to flow easily through the nozzle, enabling it to be deposited accurately onto a build platform or on top of previous layers. This layer-by-layer approach facilitates the construction of complex geometries that would be challenging or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods.

The focus on the dispensing mechanism and the controlled temperature makes material extrusion versatile and widely applicable in various industries, from prototyping to production of final parts.