Abstract: In this paper, a desktop fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer based on the conical screw extrusion unit was successfully developed. A conical screw was adopted to prepare the polymer melts and strips for the formation of 3D printed products by cooperating with the movement of printing platform. The extrusion performance of the printer was investigated by using PLA and PE-HD, and the effects of impulse frequency, filament spacing and layer thickness on the properties of PLA tensile specimen were investigated. The results indicated that the home-made FDM printer exhibited good printing performance, and suitable parameters can provide good apparent qualities and tensile properties for the printed parts. Nevertheless, the larger filament spacing reduced the tensile strength by about 20%.