NSGA-II-Based Multi-Objective Optimization of Fused Filament Fabrication Process Parameters for TPU Parts with Chemical Smoothing

In this study, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) parts were fabricated using fused filament fabrication (FFF) by varying key process parameters, namely extruder temperature (210-230 °C), layer thickness (200-400 µm), and printing speed (30-50 mm/s). A Box-Behnken experimental design was used to systematically evaluate the combined influence of these parameters on surface roughness (R_a), dimensional deviation (DD), and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). After fabrication, all specimens were subjected to a Tetrahydrofuran (THF)-based chemical smoothing process to modify surface characteristics. Surface roughness measurements showed a substantial reduction after chemical smoothing, with values decreasing from an initial range of 13.17 ± 0.21-15.87 ± 0.23 µm to 4.01 ± 0.18-7.35 ± 0.16 µm, corresponding to an average decrease of approximately 50-72%. Dimensional deviation improved moderately, from 260-420 µm in the as-printed condition to 160-310 µm after post-processing, representing a reduction of about 20-38%. Mechanical testing revealed a consistent increase in UTS following chemical smoothing, with values improving from 30.24-40.30 ± 0.52 MPa to 33.97-47.94 ± 0.36 MPa, yielding an average increase of approximately 10-24%. Then, the experimental data were used for multi-objective optimization of the FFF process parameters, using a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) implemented in Python 3.11, to identify best parameter combinations that provide a balanced surface quality, dimensional accuracy, and mechanical performance.