Investigation of Polylactic Acid 3D Printed Hollow and Thin-Walled Structures through Topology and Mechanical Properties Optimization Using Integration of Taguchi Method and Principal Component Analysis

Abstract

Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is a spectrum of techniques that enables the fabrication of objects from diverse materials, layer-by-layer, and directly from a CAD file. With the advancement of technology, the procedure has grown more adaptable and swifter. In this study, the mechanical performance and topology optimization of the polylactic acid (PLA) 3D printed hollow and thin-walled structures produced by FDM was investigated via integration of Taguchi method and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Eleven factors namely topology design (square), wall thickness (1 mm), layer height (0.3 mm), infill density (20%), infill layer thickness (0.6 mm), infill flow (80%), infill pattern (Octet), print speed (80 mm/s), printing temperature (210°C), bed temperature (65°C), and orientation direction (flat along the y-axis) were identified as the optimal factors for the 3D printed part. The integration approach concurrently solves the problem in particular for numerous quality criteria, especially in 3D printing. Integrating the Taguchi method with PCA can help to improve the quality of the final product or process, and enhance the understanding of the underlying relationships between variables.