Influence of fused deposition modeling (FDM) parameters on surface finish of plastic parts

Abstract

In the present paper, influence of FDM (fused deposition modeling) parameters on surface finish of printed parts is presented. Cylindrical specimens were printed in PLA (Polylactic Acid). Five variables were considered, namely layer height, infill, printing angle, nozzle diameter and plastic temperatu re. A fractional factorial design was defined with central points. Roughness of printed parts was measured with a contact roughness meter and different oughness parameters were determined. Main factors influencing surface roughness are printing angle and layer height, while the rest of the variables had much lower influence on surface finish. In the future, geometry and mechanical strength of the specimens will be studied and analyzed, and multiobjective optimization will be carried out.