Digital fabrication of mathematical models via low-cost 3D FDM desktop printer

Abstract

Additive manufacturing technology is developed throughout the 1980's and 1990's. This technology makes the realization of mathematical models much easier. The challenge focused is here to fabricate real objects from very complex mathematical models by using a low-cost 3D fused deposition modeling desktop printer. Thus this brings the intangible mathematical expressions to life. In this study it is illustrated that complex mathematical expressions are not only numbers and symbols but also they are real life objects. In the examples, some mathematical functions such as Möbius strip, Schwartz functions and their boundary conditions are introduced and then digitally fabricated. This work shows that how complex functional mathematical models that cannot be manufactured with classical engineering methods or very difficult to produce can be fabricated by using a 3D FDM desktop printer.