In-Situ Analysis of Vibration and Acoustic Data in Additive Manufacturing

TL;DR

This paper investigates vibration and acoustic signals in FDM 3D printing to identify patterns associated with faults, using sensors to improve understanding and potentially enhance print quality.

Contribution

It introduces an in-situ method for analyzing vibration and sound in FDM printers, highlighting how sensor data correlates with printer motion and faults.

Findings

Vibration peaks occur during abrupt acceleration and deceleration.

Low vibration levels are observed during continuous motion.

Sensor data can be used to assess printer condition.

Abstract

Vibration from an erroneous disturbance harms the manufactured components and lowers the output quality of an FDM printer. For moving machinery, vibration analysis and control are crucial. Additive manufacturing is the basis of 3D printing, which utilizes mechanical movement of the extruder to fabricate objects, and faults occur due to unwanted vibrations. Therefore, it is vital to examine the vibration patterns of a 3D printer. In this work, we observe these parameters of an FDM printer, exemplified by the MakerBot Method X. To analyze the system, it is necessary to understand the motion it generates and select appropriate sensors to detect those motions. The sensor measurement values can be used to determine the condition of the printer. We used an accelerometer and an acoustic sensor to measure the vibration and sound produced by the printer. The outputs from these sensors were examined individually. The findings show that vibration occurs at relatively low levels during continuous motion because it mainly appears at component transition edges. Due to abrupt acceleration and deceleration during zigzag motion, vibration reaches its peak.