A tooling engineer has a 900 mm alignment fixture, several smaller assembly aids and a recurring requirement for replacement end-of-arm tooling. Three Stratasys FDM systems appear capable of producing at least part of the workload, but their build envelopes, material options and production features point to different investments. Choosing around the largest component alone could leave the cell poorly matched to most weekly demand.
The new F870 combines a long build envelope with FDM Nylon 12CF for large tooling and functional parts. A smaller machine may still cover most fixture work; other systems support materials or recurring output that justify a different choice.
Start with the application, not the printer
A nominal build envelope provides an initial boundary. It does not establish that a component can be produced in its intended orientation with suitable supports, tool access and post-processing allowance. A long fixture may fit diagonally but become difficult to support or inspect. A tall component may require a different platform even when its footprint is modest.
Begin with representative CAD files and the conditions each part will face. Record locating loads, clamping loads, handling impacts, contact surfaces, temperature exposure, cleaning chemicals, inserts, fasteners and expected replacement frequency. Material selection then follows the application rather than a preference for a particular polymer name.
Occasional prototypes and shop-floor aids create a different workload from recurring batches of released parts. For recurring work, machine utilisation, material handling, calibration, queue management, operator intervention and downstream inspection affect available capacity. The first production AM cell must account for those activities alongside printing time.
Five questions that narrow the FDM choice
1. Can the part be built in a workable orientation?
Check the nominal X, Y and Z dimensions, then place the real geometry in build-preparation software. Include supports, brim or foundation requirements, access for support removal and any material reserved for machining. If splitting the part is acceptable, define the joints, alignment features and inspection method before treating segmentation as a solution.
2. Which material behaviour does the application require?
Separate stiffness, strength, temperature exposure, environmental resistance and surface requirements. Carbon-fibre reinforcement can support stiff tooling applications, but a reinforced material name does not establish suitability for every load case. Nylon-CF10 available on composite-ready systems and FDM Nylon 12CF available on the F870 are distinct materials and cannot be treated as interchangeable.
High-performance materials can also drive the machine decision. The Fortus 450mc and F900 support material choices beyond those associated with large ABS-M30 and ASA tooling. Service conditions and application-specific evidence must justify that capability.
3. Is the workload occasional or recurring?
Estimate builds per month, average build duration, changeovers, failed-build allowance, maintenance windows and operator coverage using representative jobs.
4. How much work occurs outside the build chamber?
A faster build does not remove support processing, insert installation, machining, bonding, inspection or release documentation. Compare elapsed time from approved file to usable part. Large builds can shift labour into handling and finishing, particularly when fixtures require machined datums or installed hardware.
5. Can the site operate the process consistently?
Review material storage, power and facility requirements, operator training, build preparation, preventive maintenance, inspection access and revision control. Retaining these activities internally can shorten engineering iteration and preserve process knowledge when the same part families return with design changes.
Where current Stratasys FDM systems fit
Build envelopes are nominal; orientation, supports, access and finishing allowances reduce the geometry available to a real part.
| System | Best fit / typical applications | Build envelope (mm) | Material character | When to consider it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F170 / F370 | Prototypes, functional parts and general production aids | F170: 254 × 254 × 254; F370: 355 × 254 × 355 | Selected engineering thermoplastics include ABS-M30 and ASA; verify each model and material combination | Representative parts fit comfortably and the workload centres on general engineering applications |
| F190CR / F370CR | Stiff jigs, fixtures and composite tooling | F190CR: 305 × 254 × 305; F370CR: 355 × 254 × 355 | Public supported examples include Nylon-CF10 and ABS-CF10 | Reinforced material options and compact tooling form the centre of the part family |
| F770 | Long prototypes, jigs and fixtures | 1,000 × 610 × 610 | ABS-M30 and ASA | Long geometry drives the requirement and these materials suit the operating conditions |
| Fortus 450mc | Functional parts and tooling driven by engineering or high-performance material requirements | 406 × 355 × 406 | Options include ULTEM 9085 and ULTEM 1010 resin | Material capability outweighs the need for a very large envelope |
| F870 | Large manufacturing tooling, fixtures, EOAT and functional parts | 1,000 × 610 × 610 | FDM Nylon 12CF, ABS-M30 and ASA | A large single-piece tool whose assessed loads and environment suit FDM Nylon 12CF |
| F900 | Large or tall parts with broad material requirements | 914.4 × 609.6 × 914.4 | Includes high-performance ULTEM and PEKK-based options | Height, overall scale or supported high-performance material capability drives selection |
| F3300 | Recurring manufacturing, tooling and end-use part production | 600 × 600 × 800 | Public examples include ASA, PC, Nylon 12CF and ULTEM 9085 and 1010 resins | Repeated production and reduced operator intervention carry more weight than maximum part length |
Exact compatibility must be checked for the selected machine, material, support and print-head configuration. For applications crossing technology families, material and process selection remains the earlier decision.
Where the F870 changes the selection
F870 - Large tooling with FDM Nylon 12CF, ABS-M30 or ASA.
The Stratasys F870 combines a 1,000 × 610 × 610 mm build volume with FDM Nylon 12CF, ABS-M30 and ASA. It has a fully heated build chamber, integrated regenerative material drying and automatic material changeover. Its public application scope includes production tooling, jigs, fixtures, manufacturing aids, end-of-arm tooling and functional parts.
Consider the F870 for a large, single-piece tool when the assessed loads and environment suit FDM Nylon 12CF. Avoid treating chamber temperature as part service temperature; operating exposure requires a separate material and design assessment.
The similarly sized F770 prints long prototypes, jigs and fixtures in ABS-M30 or ASA. A real comparison between the two therefore uses representative geometry, selected material, support strategy, finishing work and operating frequency rather than envelope alone.
Application decisions across the portfolio
Assembly fixture
F170 - General engineering parts and assembly aids.
F370 - General engineering parts and assembly aids.
For an ABS-M30 or ASA assembly fixture, check the oriented geometry and supports against the F170 or F370 envelope before shortlisting either machine. If the fixture requires reinforced material for the assessed load case, the F190CR or F370CR enters the shortlist. Large-format capacity would add little when most demand remains within the smaller envelope.
End-of-arm tooling
F190CR - Smaller reinforced-polymer jigs and tools.
F370CR - Smaller reinforced-polymer jigs and tools.
EOAT selection starts with payload, acceleration, gripping forces, interfaces, fasteners and failure consequences. The F370CR can suit smaller reinforced-polymer tools. For a larger tool, assess the F870 against the same load cases using FDM Nylon 12CF. Inserts, wear surfaces and attachment points still require deliberate design and inspection.
Large alignment jig
F770 - Long ABS-M30 and ASA tooling.
A 900 mm jig brings the F770 and F870 into direct consideration. ABS-M30 or ASA may support the F770 choice when stiffness and environmental requirements are met. FDM Nylon 12CF can bring the F870 into the shortlist where the evaluated design requires its material behaviour. Engineers must also compare a single-piece build with a sectional tool using controlled joints and replaceable modules.
Industrial component
Fortus 450mc - Engineering and high-performance material options.
A smaller part exposed to conditions requiring a supported high-performance thermoplastic may point toward the Fortus 450mc, even though larger machines offer more space. Geometry does not compensate for a mismatch between material capability and service conditions.
Aerospace part or production aid
F900 - Large or tall parts and high-performance polymers.
An aerospace application requires its own approval and release path. The F900 supports large parts and a broad range of high-performance materials, but machine and material names do not confer aerospace qualification. A fixture that locates, forms, clamps or affects inspection requires acceptance criteria proportionate to its influence on the finished component.
Recurring manufacturing
F3300 - Recurring batches and reduced operator intervention.
The Stratasys F3300 has a 600 × 600 × 800 mm envelope, four extruders, automatic calibration and onboard material drying. Include it in a recurring-work comparison where material handling and operator intervention limit output. Capacity estimates must use representative builds and the complete downstream workflow.
When the F870 is not the appropriate system
The F870 may be poorly matched when most parts occupy a small fraction of its envelope and use materials supported on a smaller platform. It also falls outside the shortlist when the application requires a supported high-performance material available on the Fortus 450mc or F900 but absent from the F870 material set.
A 1,000 mm envelope does not automatically justify printing a tool as one piece. Sectional construction may simplify handling, allow damaged regions to be replaced and reduce the amount rebuilt after a revision. The joint design, cumulative alignment error and inspection method determine whether that approach is acceptable.
Recurring production can also shift attention toward the F3300. Compare representative build layouts, intervention, material handling and post-processing before making any throughput judgement. No broad speed ranking between the F870, F770 and F3300 describes every production workload.
When conventional manufacturing is the better choice
FDM is not automatically preferable to machining, fabrication or moulding. Compare the complete route for a simple bracket or plate that is straightforward to machine or fabricate. At high repeat volumes, assess moulding alongside the proposed print process. Tight datums or mating surfaces may require CNC machining after printing; include that operation when comparing lead time and inspection. Where structural loads, heat exposure, surface finish or a mandated material cannot be met by the printed part, keep a conventional route in the shortlist. Certification and material specifications take precedence over printer preference.
Test the shortlist on representative parts
Select several representative parts, including the largest geometry, the most demanding material case and the most frequent job. Prepare each build in the proposed orientation, identify supports and finishing operations, and document inspection and release requirements. Then compare machine capacity using the same part set and operating assumptions.
Bring D2M the CAD files and acceptance criteria for those parts. We can compare the proposed builds with your available operators and finishing equipment before recommending a machine.
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