Sensing in-Situ Temperatures by Coordinates in Fused Filament Fabrication for Identifying Interlayer Anisotropic Mechanical Properties and Enabling Post-Fem Analysis

Abstract

In Additive Manufacturing (AM), new generations of polymer composites presented as engineering- grade materials provide high-end mechanical properties with the design freedom AM provides. Interlayer anisotropy is the main challenge in both in-situ optimization and post-analysis in transitioning from prototypes to high-performance components in fused filament fabrication (FFF). Recent studies show a direct correlation between layer fusion temperature and mechanical properties. In this paper, we present synchronized position and temperature data and study how a component changes based on layer height and geometry. An IR sensor transfers data while printing a G-code generated by FullControllGcode, printing in a single direction and recording temperature in front of the nozzle. Results show that within each layer, a Δt of 20°C at thinner geometries, the heat loss will provide a reduction in mechanical properties and further heat loss occurs when moving away from the heated bed. By using the presented temperature mesh in further studies, post- printed anisotropic components can be analyzed by FEM, and the FFF process can be adaptively optimized based on location, size and geometry.