Effect of the Nozzle Radiation on the Fused Filament Fabrication Process: Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulations and Experimental Investigation

Abstract

This paper addresses heat distribution issues in fused filament fabrication (FFF) process. Three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulations and experimental investigations are performed during additive manufacturing of parts by FFF process. The transient numerical simulations of the filament temperature field are based on the finite difference method. Experimental measurements of the temperature field are carried out using infrared thermography. The proposed model mainly highlights the contribution of heat exchange from the nozzle to the fabricated part and from filament to filament. Optimum adhesion of filaments deposited by FFF requires control of the thermal history. The nozzle radiation is taken into account as a source term in the heat balance equation. The temperature fields of the printed parts computed by numerical simulations are in very good agreement with the temperature fields measured by infrared thermograph. The 3D numerical model provides information on how the nozzle affects the temperature field of the printed part. This source term must be taken into account for the optimization of the FFF process.