Curved layered fused filament fabrication: An overview

Abstract

The use of curved layers in extrusion additive manufacturing techniques leads to several benefits, including surface finishing and structural performance. In consequence, numerous works on curved layered fused filament fabrication (CLFFF) have been published recently. Among the research related to CLFFF, different areas can be found, from upgrading FFF machines to characterizing the mechanical properties of curved layered parts. Inspired by the increase in the number of works dedicated to CLFFF, this work presents an overview of the state-of-the-art of this area of additive manufacturing. The analysis includes works related to increasing the mobility and functionality of conventional 3D printers, algorithms for slicing and path planning of CLFFF extruders, and the mechanical characterization of components fabricated via CLFFF. Additionally, discussion of potential future research steps is given for each of the areas reviewed. Finally, the application of CLFFF in the fabrication of lattice metamaterials is also reviewed. Concluding remarks and recommendations in the use of CLFFF are also given.