Comparative evaluation of an open-source FDM system

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a qualitative and quantitative comparison and evaluation of an open-source fused deposition modeling (FDM) additive manufacturing (AM) system with a proprietary FDM AM system based on the fabrication of a custom benchmarking model. Design/methodology/approach - A custom benchmarking model was fabricated using the two AM systems and evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The fabricated models were visually inspected and scanned using a 3D laser scanning system to examine their dimensional accuracy and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) performance with respect to the computer-aided design (CAD) model geometry. Findings - The open-source FDM AM system (CupCake CNC) successfully fabricated most of the features on the benchmark, but the model did suffer from greater thermal warping and surface roughness, and limitations in the fabrication of overhang structures compared to the model fabricated by the proprietary AM system. Overall, the CupCake CNC provides a relatively accurate, low-cost alternative to more expensive proprietary FDM AM systems. Research limitations/implications - This work is limited in the sample size used for the evaluation. Practical implications - This work will provide the public and research AM communities with an improved understanding of the performance and capabilities of an open-source AM system. It may also lead to increased use of open-source systems as research testbeds for the continued improvement of current AM processes, and the development of new AM system designs and processes. Originality/value - This study is one of the first comparative evaluations of an open-source AM with a proprietary AM system.