Toward an Improved Understanding for Design of Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing Process-Based 3D Printers-a Computational Study

Understanding and improving 3D printing process models are very important for designing building defect-free 3D printers. Most studies have failed to present detailed process design and modeling of material extrusion (MatEx)-based additive manufacturing (AM) in a systematic approach that considers all process parameters such as nozzle diameter, nozzle angle, and velocity. It is studied that the accuracy and consistency of a MatEx 3D fabricated product depend on the pressure drop across various nozzle zones. This paper identifies the constraints affecting the performance of the MatEx AM process and presents mathematical modeling related to various process parameters. Also, the paper shows expressions for pinch wheel feed mechanism, liquefier, and nozzle geometry of the MatEx process in terms of independent variables, such as liquefier temperature, nozzle geometry, and feed rate. This will be helpful in computing the precise design parameters of MatEx-based 3D printers. The complex mathematical expressions developed are pivotal for the effective regulation of the 3D printing process. It not only provides new and better designs for MatEx machines with precise operation and better resolution but also opens the scope for further scientific development to expand the capability of proposed approach for both specific applications and the field.

Automated summary

Understanding and improving 3D printing process models are crucial for designing defect-free 3D printers. This paper presents a systematic approach for the process design and modeling of material extrusion-based additive manufacturing, considering all process parameters. Mathematical modeling is used to identify constraints and expressions related to various process parameters, facilitating the computation of precise design parameters. The developed mathematical expressions are pivotal for regulating the 3D printing process effectively.