Comparative evaluation of an open-source FDM system
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a qualitative and quantitative comparison and evaluation of an open-source fused deposition modeling (FDM) additive manufacturing (AM) system with a proprietary FDM AM system based on the fabrication of a custom benchmarking model.
Design/methodology/approach
A custom benchmarking model was fabricated using the two AM systems and evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The fabricated models were visually inspected and scanned using a 3D laser scanning system to examine their dimensional accuracy and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) performance with respect to the computer-aided design (CAD) model geometry.
Findings
The open-source FDM AM system (CupCake CNC) successfully fabricated most of the features on the benchmark, but the model did suffer from greater thermal warping and surface roughness, and limitations in the fabrication of overhang structures compared to the model fabricated by the proprietary AM system. Overall, the CupCake CNC provides a relatively accurate, low-cost alternative to more expensive proprietary FDM AM systems.
Research limitations/implications
This work is limited in the sample size used for the evaluation.
Practical implications
This work will provide the public and research AM communities with an improved understanding of the performance and capabilities of an open-source AM system. It may also lead to increased use of open-source systems as research testbeds for the continued improvement of current AM processes, and the development of new AM system designs and processes.
Originality/value
This study is one of the first comparative evaluations of an open-source AM with a proprietary AM system.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The first author would like to thank three students, Brian Redden, Matt Carroll and Michael Tam, for their assistance in the preliminary configuration and assembly of the MakerBot CupCake CNC system and literature searches. This work was supported with funds from the Armstrong/NASA Space Grant Program, the Armstrong/NSF-STEP (Science Technology Expansion Program, DUE-0856593) Grant and a research and scholarship grant from the Armstrong Office of Sponsored Programs.
Citation
M. Johnson, W., Rowell, M., Deason, B. and Eubanks, M. (2014), "Comparative evaluation of an open-source FDM system", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 20 No. 3, pp. 205-214. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-06-2012-0058
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited