In a conventional FDM (fused deposition modelling) 3D printer, molten plastic or resin is extruded through a single nozzle, building up a three-dimensional object in successive deposited layers which bond with one another as they cool. Throughout the printing process, the nozzle gets moved across the print bed via a structure known as a gantry.

Needless to say, printing large objects in this fashion can take quite a long time. The process can be speeded up by using a larger nozzle – thus allowing more material to be deposited at once – but doing so results in larger individual layers of material, giving the finished object a coarser, lower-resolution appearance.

That's where Multiplexed Fused Filament Fabrication (MF3) comes in.