Which of the following statements about the advantages associated with material extrusion is true?

The statement that material extrusion uses thermoplastic build materials that are often inexpensive and readily available is true. Material extrusion, especially in the context of 3D printing technologies like Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), primarily employs thermoplastics such as PLA (polylactic acid) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). These materials are favored for their cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and wide availability. This makes material extrusion an attractive option for prototyping and production, allowing for easy sourcing of materials.

The use of thermoplastics also brings additional benefits, such as the ability to recycle unused material and the diversity of properties available through different types of thermoplastics, which can be tailored for specific applications. This versatility contributes to the growing popularity of material extrusion in various industries, making it a practical choice for manufacturers and hobbyists alike.