What is defined as a 'road' in FDM?

In the context of Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), a 'road' refers to a single deposited bead of thermoplastic material. This terminology is crucial to understanding how FDM works, as it describes the way in which material is extruded from the printer nozzle to build up the 3D object layer by layer.

Each road is essentially a thin line of plastic that eventually contributes to the overall structure of the printed item. This process continues across the entire build area, with each road being strategically placed to achieve the desired shape and strength of the final product. Understanding this definition helps in grasping how FDM achieves its additive manufacturing goals and how adjusting the parameters affecting the roads (like width and flow rate) can impact the quality and characteristics of the print.

While other options mention elements related to FDM, such as the path of the printer head or the movement of the build platform, these do not specifically define what constitutes a 'road' in this specific context.