Research on the screw structure of screw extrusion-based fused deposition molding ( FDM) 3D printer is gradually deepening, aiming to meet the challenges of manufacturing cost, molding size and material selection. The optimization of screw structure is the key factor to improve the performance of FDM technology, which directly affects the plasticization quality and selection diversity of materials, and then affects the printing efficiency and the quality of parts. This paper discussed the efforts of domestic researchers in improving the performance of FDM printing from three aspects of screw structure parameter optimization, external structure coordination and innovative screw structure. In addition, the custom design of material properties, the innovative application of external auxiliary structures and the establishment of systematic design specifications were summarized and prospected. These studies provide a new technical path and theoretical support for the future development of screw extrusion 3D printers.