Optimizing 3D Prints: Results: Optimum Configurations for 3D Printing (Part 2)

Results: Optimum Configurations for 3D Printing

The summary of optimal settings obtained in the case of Experiment-1 and Experiment-2 can be found in Table 2 and Table 3 respectively. It shows the most ideal and least ideal configurations to use when it comes to choosing between the factors. It also shows which factors, or the factorial interactions contribute to the printed object in a statistically significant manner. This indicates the user to keep an eye on them.

Infill (Factor B)		Most Ideal Configuration		Least Ideal Configuration		Statistically Significant Factors
Low	High	Height	Base Area	Height	Base Area	Height	Base Area
Hollow	20%	Natural 20% None	Natural 20% None	Natural 20% Tapered	Natural Hollow Tapered	C	No Factors
Hollow	80%	Natural 80% None	Natural 80% None	Pink 80% Tapered	Natural 80% Tapered	C	B
Hollow	Solid	Natural Solid None	Pink Solid None	Pink Solid Tapered	Natural Solid Tapered	No Factors	No Factors
20%	80%	Pink 80% None	Pink 80% Tapered	Pink 80% Tapered	Natural 80% Tapered	A, C A*C A*B*C	A A*B, A*C A*B*C
20%	Solid	Natural Solid None	Pink 20% None	Pink 20% Tapered	Natural Solid Tapered	A, C B*C	B
80%	Solid	Natural 80% None	Natural 80% None	Pink 80% Tapered	Pink 80% Tapered	A, C	B, C A*C

Table 2 Summary of the results of the optimal configurations of Experiment-1

 

Infill (Factor B)		Most Ideal Configuration		Least Ideal Configuration		Statistically Significant Factors
Low	High	Height	Base Area	Height	Base Area	Height	Base Area
Hollow	20%	Natural Hollow None	Natural 20% None	Natural Hollow Tapered	Blue 20% Tapered	C A*C	B
Hollow	80%	Natural 80% None	Natural 80% None	Natural Hollow Tapered	Natural Hollow None	C	B, C B*C
Hollow	Solid	Natural Solid None	Natural Solid None	Natural Hollow Tapered	Blue Solid Tapered	C A*C	A A*B, B*C
20%	80%	Natural 80% None	Natural 80% None	Natural 20% Tapered	Blue 20% Tapered	C A*C A*B*C	C A*B
20%	Solid	Natural Solid None	Natural 20% None	Natural 20% Tapered	Blue Solid Tapered	C A*C	A, B, C
80%	Solid	Natural 80% None	Natural 80% None	Blue 80% Tapered	Blue Solid Tapered	A, C A*B, A*C A*B*C	B, C A*B

Table 3 Summary of the results of the optimal configurations of Experiment-2

 

When color pigments are added to natural PLA, some of its properties such as crystallinity is affected ^[25], leading to variation in the way the material prints. Hence, a similar experiment was performed with two different pigmentations of PLA. Factor A’s levels were changed to pink and blue. However, other factors and the settings were kept the same. The expected values also remained the same. Table 4 shows the optimal configurations for the Experiment-3.

 

Infill (Factor B)		Most Ideal Configuration		Least Ideal Configuration		Statistically Significant Factors
Low	High	Height	Base Area	Height	Base Area	Height	Base Area
Hollow	20%	Blue 20% None	Pink 20% None	Blue Hollow Tapered	Blue 20% Tapered	No Factors	No Factors
Hollow	80%	Blue 80% None	Pink 80% Tapered	Pink 80% Tapered	Blue Hollow Tapered	No Factors	B
Hollow	Solid	Blue Hollow None	Pink Solid None	Blue Solid Tapered	Blue Solid Tapered	No Factors	No Factors
20%	80%	Blue 80% None	Pink 80% Tapered	Pink 80% Tapered	Blue 20% Tapered	A, C A* C	A, B, C A* C
20%	Solid	Blue Solid None	Pink 20% None	Pink 20% Tapered	Pink Solid Tapered	A, C A* C	A, B, C
80%	Solid	Blue Solid None	Pink 80% Tapered	Pink 80% Tapered	Blue Solid Tapered	A, B, C A*C, B*C	A, B, C A*C A*B*C

Table 4 Summary of the results of the optimal configurations of Experiment-3

 

The data from Table 2-4 show that tapered objects should have a lower priority while 3D printing. The bigger the shape, the more accurate the overall geometry ^[20], hence the cones can clearly be seen having the least ideal configuration in all cases, because the size of each successive layer reduces since they taper. Also, objects printed using natural PLA are consistently seen in the most ideal configuration columns in Table 2-3, making it preferable when compared to its colored counterparts. Choosing the settings available in Tables 2-4 could prove beneficial to reduce filament wastage while printing using PLA.

 

References

References can be found in the Introduction section.