A novel self-assessment technique of 3D printer accuracy

A novel self-assessment technique of 3D printer accuracy

Dimitrios KRYFOS, Christos KALLIGEROS, Konstantinos KARAGIANNIS, Vasilios SPITAS, Nickolas SAPIDIS

Abstract. As Additive Manufacturing Technologies continue to evolve, the need for accuracy in 3D printing methods increases. To evaluate the accuracy of 3D printers and/or the 3D printing process, several benchmark layouts have been proposed in the literature. However, these layouts are typically very complex and do not allow the average 3D printer user to quickly reach a clear conclusion about printer accuracy. This study introduces a novel self-assessment technique for evaluating the accuracy of 3D printers. The proposed benchmark layout consists of only three main 3D-printed components. By leveraging geometric relationships and amplifying deviations through inclined surfaces, this method enables the measurement of the cylindricity of a 3D-printed cylinder without the need for specialized equipment. The layout can be easily printed and used to assess the accuracy of the printer. Measurements from the layout were compared with those obtained from a CMM and a caliper. While this new method may not capture the full three-dimensional form error of a cylinder as accurately as a CMM, it provides a practical measure of the apparent diameter, which is critical for successful assembly operations. This simple, cost-effective technique offers a valuable tool for both amateur and professional users to assess and compare the accuracy of different 3D printing processes and machines.

Keywords
3D Printing, Benchmark Layout, Additive Manufacturing, Geometrical Accuracy, Self-Assessment

Published online 12/10/2024, 8 pages
Copyright © 2024 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA

Citation: Dimitrios KRYFOS, Christos KALLIGEROS, Konstantinos KARAGIANNIS, Vasilios SPITAS, Nickolas SAPIDIS, A novel self-assessment technique of 3D printer accuracy, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 46, pp 74-81, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903377-10

The article was published as article 10 of the book Innovative Manufacturing Engineering and Energy

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

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