3DCeram M.A.T.

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
Principle: Melts and extrudes a continuous filament of thermoplastic (or specially formulated ceramic/metal-filled filament) through a heated nozzle.
Process: The nozzle deposits material layer-by-layer, building up the part’s geometry. Each layer fuses to the previous one as it cools.
Strengths: Widely available, good for rapid prototyping, relatively low cost, and easy material swapping.
Limitations: Surface finish can be “steppy” (visible layers), limited resolution (\~0.1–0.3 mm layer height), and mechanical anisotropy (weaker between layers).

Direct Ink Writing (DIW)
Principle: Extrudes a viscous “ink” (slurry or paste) through a fine nozzle under pressure (pneumatic or screw-driven).
Process: The ink—often a ceramic, metal, or polymer slurry—shears through the nozzle and holds its shape immediately upon deposition, thanks to thixotropic or rapid-setting properties.
Strengths: Excellent for high-viscosity materials, precise deposition of functional pastes (e.g., ceramics, conductive inks), and the ability to print overhangs without extensive supports.
Limitations: Requires careful ink formulation (rheology control), slower build speeds than FFF, and often needs post-processing (e.g., drying, debinding, sintering).