Parameter optimization for dimensional accuracy of VAT photopolymerization 3D printed part: Taguchi approach.

The resin 3D printing is widely recognized as first 3D printing technology and also called as VAT photopolymerization technique, that uses Ultra Violet (UV) laser light and photopolymer (PP) resin to build the component layer by layer. Complex components with fine features, correct measurements, great quality, and high-resolution are features of this technique. In fact, the quality of 3D printing has a lot to do with the equipment, materials and slicer. Although this technology has so many advantages, the dimensional accuracy of printed parts depends on many factors such as layer height, orientation, exposure time. Designers are crucial in conceptualizing a product before it is fabricated, which increases the design's resilience. Manufacturers can use 3D printing to directly build components at this level, but precision must always be maintained. The PP resins are very much prone to the shrinkage after immediate printing and it is not absolutely cured in the machine. It is necessary to do post curing in order to improve structural performance, at the same time the component shrinks, unfortunately, this may result in clearance and fit issues in design perception. Inherent size imperfections are frequent in 3D printed objects, the most common of which being variances in the linear dimension and hole diameter. These two forms of errors were investigated, as well as their effects on the dimensional correctness of a typical part. The experimental results of a preliminary investigation for post-cured specimens printed using the VAT photopolymerization 3D printing technology are presented in this article. The study aimed in predicting the influencing parameters using Taguchi analysis by design of experiments in order to improve the dimensional accuracy (DA) of 3D printed part and a regression equation is developed to predict the better outcomes. Based on the findings of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), it was observed that exposure time and orientation play an important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]