Sustainable Manufacturing Decisions through the Optimization of Printing Parameters in 3D Printing

Abstract

The 3D printers integrated with fused filament fabrication (FFF) are highly valued worldwide because of their properties, which include fast proofing, compatibility with various materials, and low printing cost. The competitiveness of FFF can be enhanced by improving printing quality. However, due to the increasing sustainability issues worldwide, there is an urgent need to lower energy consumption. In this study, we focused on fan rate, printing speed, nozzle temperature, build plate temperature, and layer thickness as factors that directly impact the dimensional accuracy, carbon dioxide emissions, and printing cost of FFF printers. Several single-objective and multiobjective optimization tasks were performed using the Taguchi method and desirability approach to implement sustainable manufacturing decisions. In single-objective optimization, the inner width, outer width, material cost, and labor cost were most easily affected by the layer thickness. The outer length, carbon dioxide emissions, and electricity cost were significantly affected by the build plate temperature. In multiobjective optimization, a different set of printing parameters can be used to optimize dimensional accuracy, carbon dioxide emissions, material cost, labor cost, and electricity cost. This study helps users to obtain optimal solutions under different optimization requirements to cope with diverse manufacturing characteristics.