Application of piezoelectric transducers for precise printhead height determination in 3D printing

The use of piezoelectric transducer as micrometric printhead positioning in fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology was presented in paper. FFF is a low-cost additive manufacturing method for 3D printing using thermoplastic filaments. The principle of 3D FFF printing is based on sequential stacking quasi two-dimensional layers on the printer bed to produce three-dimensional objects. One of the main challenges of FFF printing technology is the first layer problem. Achieving the assumed height and adhesion of the first layer determines the ability to create a component and the final quality of the printed item. This paper focuses on using piezoelectric transducers to determine the print head distance. The results presented show that piezo transducer technology has a very high measurement accuracy in the order of micrometers and high measurement repeatability, while meeting the objectives of availability and low cost of the solution desired for FFF printing. Additionally, the issue of coaxial mounting of the measuring tool with the print head was analyzed as well as the influence of relatively high temperatures characteristic for FFF technology on the measurement results.