Optimization of process parameters for compressive strength-to-weight ratio of additively manufactured polyethylene terephthalate glycol

Additive manufacturing (AM), particularly the fused deposition modeling (FDM) has become a cornerstone manufacturing technology in the nascent field of 3D printing.The mechanical properties and effective use of material in 3D printed parts are essential for enhancing the potential of AM in industrial and functional applications.This paper explores how core FDM printing process parameters: print temperature, extrusion width, and printing speed affect the compressive strength-to-weight ratio of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) parts produced via FDM.Based on the Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM) the influence of these conditions concerning the mechanics and material properties were studied.The results show that a printing temperature of 250 C provides improved compressive strength as well as decreased weight through strong bonding between layers.Small, extruded widths (0.5 mm) have been found to offer the ideal strength-to-weight ratio while large extruded widths (0.6 mm) greatly enhanced strength by adding weight.A slower printing speed of 30 mm/s promoted greater compressive strength but yielded more dense parts.In the multi-objective desirability optimization, optimal parameters were found in which the printing temperature was 250 C, the extruded width was 0.5879 mm and the printing speed was 30 mm/s.The results of this study are beneficial for realizing lightweight yet mechanically abundant 3D printing parts while enhancing the field of AM in different industries.