Experimental Optimization of Fused Deposition Modeling Process Parameters: A Taguchi Process Approach for Dimension and Tolerance Control

Abstract:

Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing is an industrial revolution, challenging traditional manufacturing models, but is still in the development phase after more than 30 years of discrete existence in prototyping labs. AM is an advanced manufacturing technology that fabricates parts layer by layer from one from a digital model (CAO) that manages a digital stereolithography (STL) file. From standard NF ISO 17296-2, there are 7 families of the most used processes, such as FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) was developed by S. Scott Crump, unction by the temperature setting of the machine (around 200 ° C), necessary for the melting of the material and deposited by a thin-layer nozzle that can range from 0.08 to 3 mm thick. Due to the nature of the FDM process many benefits appear but making functional parts using FDM has proved to be a difficult task. The difficulty comes from the influence of processing parameters such as: Platform temperature, Extruder temperature, Layer thickness, Number of shells, Infill density, print speed, Infill pattern and Number of solid layers on the final characteristics of the pieces. Our work presented provides an experimental study to analyze the effect of each processing parameter on the dimensional accuracy and time of manufacture of FDM parts. In general, 18 test samples were made using various treatment parameters. In order to analyze dimensional tolerances of these samples they were measured and compared to a 3D CAD model.

nsdlogo2016