Determining Optimal Robocasting Process Parameters for Additive Manufacturing of Ceramic Parts

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is rapidly growing and widely used manufacturing technology for building up functional parts by metal, polymer, ceramic and their composites. Different AM methods have been developed for processing various materials in different feed stock such as filament, powder, resin, etc. Robocasting is one of the AM method for building up 3D ceramic based geometries. Although, the method most commonly used in biomedical industry for generating ceramic tissue scaffolds and artificial organs, it is also promising method for manufacturing industrial ceramic products such as bathtubs, sinks and vases. In this study, it is aimed to determine optimal process parameters for building up ceramic vase with high surface quality and dimensional accuracy. Nozzle diameter and material extrusion rate were changed in different levels and manufactured parts were inspected in terms of their dimensional accuracy and surface quality via precision measurement systems. The results revealed that, nozzle diameter and extrusion rate were important parameters and they have to be selected in accordance with each other for improving product quality.