Monitoring the Energy Consumption of FDM Device Based on the Variation of Operating Parameters: A Study

Abstract

AbstractIn this article, we plan to focus on 3D printing of thin-walled objects and monitoring the energy during the process. In the first part, we present the characteristic parts of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) devices. Subsequently, we focused on one type of FDM printer, determined the basic parameters and created a test object. The subject of the study is the monitoring of FDM equipment parameters when printing test specimens at various operating parameters. Thin-walled objects created by the lithophane method are used as test specimens. In this article, we focused on changing of the operating parameters such as layer height and print speed. Subsequently, we performed simulations focusing on the total printing time and material consumption. After their implementation, we printed 9 samples, each with different operating parameters. During printing, we recorded energy consumption and real printing time. On individual prints, we observed how the change in parameters affected the quality of the print and what defects arose. With this article, we wanted to point out the influence of the change of printing parameters on the final quality of the manufactured products, with consideration to economic and qualitative factors. The study serves to determine the basis in the field of energy requirements of FDM devices. These collected data can then serve as a basis for optimizing the entire process, streamlining the use of resources and resulting benefits in the field of sustainable development.KeywordsLithophaneEnergy consumption3D print qualityLayer heightPrint speed