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.