Two performance indices of parts in Polylactic Acid manufactured through a material extrusion process: analysis of their dependence on process parameters

Industrially, some parts, such as gears, are manufactured through additive manufacturing processes. These processes require high mechanical strength and high geometric accuracy. Therefore, combining geometric accuracy with mechanical performances may provide a full understanding of the industrial product. The authors proposed two indices in previous works; the first combines all dimensional deviations from the nominal values, while the second combines the dimensional deviation with the mechanical performances. This study aims to investigate the effects of printing process parameters on both indices. The results demonstrate the infill percentage, the print speed, the layer height, and the bed temperature exerted on the two proposed indices. The trend of the two indices versus the process parameter values is shown and quantified through relationships. These indices show significant correlations with process parameters, highlighting the need to consider individual and combined effects when optimizing 3D processes. Understanding the relationships and optimizing these indicators facilitates the identification of optimal process parameters, which leads to improved efficiency and consistency in additive manufacturing operations.