Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Factors Affecting Dimensional Precision Of Consumer 3d Printing, David D. Hernandez
Factors Affecting Dimensional Precision Of Consumer 3d Printing, David D. Hernandez
International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace
This paper investigates the factors affecting dimensional precision of consumer-grade 3D printing, attempting to isolate and mitigate sources of error. The focus is on creating engineering prototypes of, tooling for, or finalized instances of mechanical devices. A specific fused deposition modeling printer – the Ultimaker 2 – is analyzed in terms of meeting precise physical dimensions, consistent shapes, and predictable surface finish. Extensive trial and error resulted in removal of several sources of bias, with square test articles exhibiting a lower-than-anticipated mean percentage error of -0.387% (SD = 0.559), a value comparable to other modern manufacturing techniques. A full …