Statistic evaluation of optimal ABS fused filament fabrication parameters for wear and tensile strength control

Abstract

Fused filament fabrication is a rapidly growing 3D printing technique with the ability to produce functional components with complex shapes. The mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed parts are significantly influenced by various process parameters such as layer thickness, infill density, and nozzle temperature, which can influence part's parameters in conflicting ways. This research focuses on identifying the optimum settings for fused filament fabrication of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Specifically, the dimensional deviations, mechanical and abrasive wear properties of printed specimens are investigated. Experiments were designed using the Taguchi method with an L9 orthogonal array, to vary the three factors systematically. The results were analysed using analysis of variance, the Taguchi signal-to-noise ratio, and the regression analysis, with multi-response optimisation performed via desirability function analysis. The optimal balance of all three properties was achieved with infill density = 23%, layer thickness = 0.25 mm, and nozzle temperature = 240°C. This work provides a systematic, statistically validated method for multi-criteria optimisation in fused filament fabrication, offering practical guidance for producing acrylonitrile butadiene styrene components that meet multiple performance requirements simultaneously.