Multi-criteria decision making paradigm for selection of best printing parameters of fused deposition modeling

Abstract

Abstract Additive Manufacturing (AM) is one of the most advanced production methods that produce high-precision parts with virtually negligible material waste. Additive manufacturing, as its name suggests, produces the components by adding the material layer by layer up-to the final shape of the component. Due to its design and manufacturing freedom it is very popular amongst many manufacturing plants across the world. It has wide range of applications in sectors like aerospace, automobile, construction and in many medical applications. One of the AM processes used to produce a variety of plastic components for different applications is Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). FDM produces parts by heating and extruding plastic filaments through a small nozzle, the motion of which is controlled by a computer, defined by a 3D model with a number of layers. The performance of FDM also depends on its process parameters, as do other manufacturing processes. Different process parameters such as layer thickness, infill percentage, bed temperature, printing speed, infill pattern, build orientation, air gap and raster angle have a significant impact on the FDM process. This paper focuses on optimization of process parameters of FDM using VIKOR technique.