Optimizing parameters for additive manufacturing: a study on the vibrational performance of 3D printed cantilever beams using material extrusion

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of different printing parameters on the free vibration characteristics of 3D printed cantilever beams. Through a comprehensive analysis of material extrusion (ME) variables such as extrusion rate, printing pattern and layer thickness, the study seeks to enhance the understanding of how these parameters influence the vibrational properties, particularly the natural frequency, of printed components. Design/methodology/approach The experimental design involves conducting a series of experiments using a central composite design approach to gather data on the vibrational response of ABS cantilever beams under diverse ME parameters. These parameters are systematically varied across different levels, facilitating a thorough exploration of their effects on the vibrational behavior of the printed specimens. The collected data are then used to develop a predictive model leveraging a hybrid artificial neural network (ANN)/ particle swarm optimization (PSO) approach, which combines the strengths of ANN in modeling complex relationships and PSO in optimizing model parameters. Findings The developed ANN/PSO hybrid model demonstrates high accuracy in predicting the natural frequency of 3D printed cantilever beams, with a correlation ratio (R) of 0.9846 when tested against experimental data. Through iterative fine-tuning with PSO, the model achieves a low mean square error (MSE) of 1.1353e-5, underscoring its precision in estimating the vibrational characteristics of printed specimens. Furthermore, the model’s transformation into a regression model enables the derivation of surface response characteristics governing the vibration properties of 3D printed objects in response to input parameters, facilitating the identification of optimal parameter configurations for maximizing vibration characteristics in 3D printed products. Originality/value This study introduces a novel predictive model that combines ANNs with PSO to analyze the vibrational behavior of 3D printed ABS cantilever beams produced under various ME parameters. By integrating these advanced methodologies, the research offers a pioneering approach to precisely estimating the natural frequency of 3D printed objects, contributing to the advancement of predictive modeling in additive manufacturing.