Part surface quality improvement studies in fused deposition modelling process: a review

Nowadays fused deposition modelling (FDM) is being utilised in prototyping, the printing of fully operational parts and direct part production purposes. However, surface quality issues in the FDM process such as volumetric error, shape deviation, and surface finish have always remained a challenge. These issues cause various restrictions in acquiring the ideal surface quality in FDM built parts. In this regard, various studies have been conducted to resolve the FDM part surface quality separately at the pre and post-processing stages. However, part surface quality-associated issues are efficiently observed and supervised if these previously developed studies can be reviewed with a combined outlook of both pre and post-processing stages because particular processing stage subsequently influences the next processing stage. Therefore, in the present work, various studies were reviewed to provide comprehensive knowledge to observe and control the overall part surface quality in pre and post-processing stages.

Automated summary

This article reviews various studies to provide comprehensive knowledge on observing and controlling the overall surface quality of FDM parts in both pre and post-processing stages.