Multi-Parameter Optimization of 3D Printing Condition for Enhanced Quality and Strength

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing is the most common type of additive manufacturing available in both research and the industry. Due to the rapid development of 3D printing, there is now a significant need to fabricate parts with higher quality with respect to cosmetics, precision, and strength of the final products. This work is focused on finding the optimal printing condition for a commercially available 3D printer and filament material (i.e., Polylactic acid (PLA)). In this work, we focus on finding the combined effect of retraction speed, deposition angle, and number of walls on both the visual quality and strength of 3D-printed parts. It is found that the number of walls does not play a major role in the strength of the parts. On the other hand, the retraction speed plays a significant role in defining the ultimate tensile strength of the parts. For parts printed at higher retraction speeds, there is a 10-15% improvement in the ultimate tensile strength.