Experimental study of the effect of different 3D printing parameters on tensile strength, using artificial neural network

Abstract

Numerous research studies have been conducted to optimize printing parameters using the fused deposition modeling technique (FDM) to improve mechanical properties. The large number of process parameters creates a need to search for optimal combinations of parameters to improve mechanical properties. This study examines the effects of three parameters when printing 3D with melted filament of a PLA material (Polylactic Acid) on the ultimate tensile strength of the printed parts. This search combines an experimental study of the most influential printing parameters on the tensile strength property, namely layer thickness, printing temperature, and feed rate. The experimental results are then analyzed and modeled as a linear regression model. Then develop an intelligent artificial model based on ANN (Artificial Neural Network) derived from these experimental results capable of predicting the optimal combination of parameters providing maximum tensile strength. The observed results showed that the feed rate dominates among the other variables, followed by the thickness of the layer. Also, at the level of prediction, the artificial model provides a better prediction of the tensile strength with a value of 36.1625 MPa by combining the following parameters: Feed rate: 70 mm s−1, temperature: 200 °C, and layer thickness: 0.26 mm, compared to the prediction obtained by the linear regression model. Neural networks enable more accurate optimization of 3D process parameters, leading to an overall improvement in the quality of finished products. predictive models, significantly reducing the iteration time required to obtain optimal parameters. The quality of the data used to train neural networks is crucial.