Insights into Temperature Simulation and Validation of Fused Deposition Modeling Processes

Abstract

In fused deposition modeling (FDM), the cooling history impacts the bonding between filaments and layers. The existence of thermal gradients can cause non-homogeneous properties and localized stress points that may affect the individual filaments, resulting in distortion and detachment. Thermal analysis can aid in understanding the manufacturing flaw, providing necessary tools for the optimization of the printing trajectory. The present work is intended to deepen understanding of the thermal phenomena occurring during the extrusion of polymeric materials, aiming at more efficient three-dimensional (3D) printing methods. A one-dimensional (1D) finite differential method was implemented using MATLAB to simulate the temperature evolution of an extruded filament, and the results were compared with two-dimensional (2D) COMSOL Multiphysics simulations, and experimentally validated using infrared thermography. Acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) was used as a test material. The energy dissipation includes forced convection and radiation heat losses to the surrounding medium.