Line width mathematical model in fused deposition modelling for precision manufacturing

Abstract

Additive manufacturing is becoming increasingly popular because of its unique advantages, especially fused deposition modelling (FDM) which has been widely used due to its simplicity and comparatively low price. However, in current FDM processes, it is difficult to fabricate parts with highly accurate dimensions. One of the reasons is due to the slicing process of 3D models. Current slicing software divides the parts into layers and then lines (paths) based on a fixed value. However, in a real printing process, the printed line width will change when the process parameters are set in different values. The various printed widths may result in inaccuracy of printed dimensions of parts if using a fixed value for slicing. In this paper, a mathematical model is proposed to predict the printed line width in different layer heights. Based on this model, a method is proposed for calculating the optimal width value for slicing 3D parts. In the future, the proposed mathematical model can be integrated into slicing software to slice 3D models for precision additive manufacturing.