Enhancing optical transparency of 3D printed PLA parts via multi-response optimization

In the realm of Additive Manufacturing, Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is a popular technique that allows costeffective fabrication of complex 3D models. However, achieving transparency in FFF parts unveils significant challenges due to the large dependency on process parameters. Thus, the current study presents an investigation of the effect of process parameters for the fabrication of transparent parts using Polylactic acid (PLA). The process parameters namely layer height, road width, and deposition speed were selected and their effects on the transmittance and spatial resolution have been studied. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Analysis of Variance have been used to study the effect of process parameters and obtain the optimum output responses. From the investigations, it has been concluded that layer height has a significant effect on transmittance and spatial resolution. Along with RSM, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique has been used for the process parameters optimization. A case study has also been carried out for the practical implementation of the current investigation.