Investigations on Factors Affecting 3D-Printed Holes Dimensional Accuracy and Repeatability

This paper investigates the impact of several factors related to manufacturing, design, and post-processing on dimensional accuracy holes built in additively manufactured parts obtained by material extrusion process (MEX). Directly fabricated 3D prints are commonly used for joining with other means mechanical fasteners, thus producing assemblies or larger parts, have functional purposes such as guiding drill case patient-personalized surgical guides. However, despite their spread use importance, relationship between 3D-printed holes’ printing settings is not well documented literature. Therefore, this research, test were varying number shells, speed, layer thickness, axis orientation angles evaluating effect different diameters. In same context limited existing information, influence material, printer, slicing software also investigated determining hole-type features across manufacturing sites, a highly relevant aspect when using MEX produce spare end-use delocalized production paradigm. The results study indicated that thickness most factor diameter accuracy, followed shells around holes. Considering tested values, optimal set values found optimizing time was 0.2 mm two 50 mm/s speed straight Data equipment slicers no statistically significant difference diameters evaluation polylactic acid mimicking template device inclined showed medical decontamination had more variability than accuracy.