3D Printer Nozzle Structure Form Optimal Structural Analysis

Abstract

The most representative technology of 3D printing is fused deposition modeling (FDM). To improve the printing accuracy of FDM technology, this paper first takes the outlet diameter, angle of convergence, and rectifier section length of the nozzle as the influencing factors. It takes the melt outlet speed stability, viscosity, and outlet pressure as the indexes to design the orthogonal test. Then, COMSOL Multiphysics fluid–solid coupling simulation was used to simulate and analyze the structural characteristics of the 3D printer nozzle, and the range analysis method was used to analyze the data. Finally, the two-phase flow combination was used to simulate the morphological characteristics of the melt flowing out of the nozzle. The results show that the simulation results of the two materials are similar. As the nozzle diameter decreases, the melt pressure decreases, the velocity increases, and the viscosity decreases. For PLA wire rods, the optimal structure of the nozzle is that the outlet diameter is 0.2 mm, the rectifier section length is 1.5 mm, and the angle of convergence is 60°. For ABS wire, the optimum structure of the nozzle is that the outlet diameter is 0.2 mm, the rectifier section length is 1.5 mm, and the angle of convergence is 30°. The nozzle outlet diameter is inversely proportional to the printing accuracy for ABS and PLA materials. The research results provide a theoretical reference for optimizing the nozzle structure for 3D printing.