Effect of Material and Process Specific Factors on the Strength of Printed Parts in Fused Filament Fabrication: A Review of Recent Developments

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) is rapidly evolving as the most comprehensive tool to manufacture products ranging from prototypes to various end-user applications. Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is the most widely used AM technique due to its ability to manufacture complex and relatively high strength parts from many low-cost materials. Generally, the high strength of the printed parts in FFF is attributed to the research in materials and respective process factors (process variables, physical setup, and ambient temperature). However, these factors have not been rigorously reviewed for analyzing their effects on the strength and ductility of different classes of materials. This review systematically elaborates the relationship between materials and the corresponding process factors. The main focus is on the strength and ductility. A hierarchical approach is used to analyze the materials, process parameters, and void control before identifying existing research gaps and future research directions.