GLOSSARY
FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)
FFF is the open-source name for the same 3D printing process as FDM: a heated nozzle extrudes molten plastic filament in layers. The term exists to avoid Stratasys's FDM trademark.
Definition
FFF was coined by the RepRap project around 2005 because Fused Deposition Modeling was a Stratasys trademark. The mechanics are identical: filament feeds into a hot end, melts, extrudes through a nozzle, and deposits in thin layers that fuse to the layer below.
You will see the term FFF in academic papers, RepRap-derived documentation, and on machines whose makers prefer not to license a trademarked term. Many manufacturers use FDM and FFF interchangeably in marketing.
Why it matters
For practical purposes, none. If a printer says FFF, you treat it exactly like an FDM printer — same filament, same slicers, same settings. The distinction only matters when reading historical or legal context.
Common confusion
People often think FFF and FDM are different processes with different capabilities. They are not. The original Stratasys patents (now expired) covered the technique; the names are branding.