Computer aided decision support for fused deposition modeling

Parts formed using fused deposition modeling (FDM) can vary significantly in quality depending on the manufacturing process plan. Altering the plan profoundly affects the character of the resulting part. Although the designer and the machine user may have preferences regarding the part build and the relative importance of build outcomes such as production speed, dimensional accuracy, and surface quality, setting process variables to ensure desired results is a complex task. A multi-objective decision support system has been developed to aid the user in setting FDM process variables in order to best achieve specific build goals and desired part characteristics. The method uses experimentation to quantify the effects of FDM process variables on part build goals, and to predict build outcomes and expected part quality. The system offers the user the ability to quantify the trade-offs among conflicting goals while striving towards the best compromise solution.