Optimization of a heated platform based on statistical annealing of critical design parameters in a 3D printing application

Recent advancements in 3D printing, sometimes referred to as additive manufacturing is considered a game changer relative to rapid prototyping. The industrial, military, commercial, aerospace as well as the automotive industry have made significant gains due to this technology. The 3D printing market is expected to reach $8.43 billion by 2020, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.37% from 2014 to 2020 (1). As in any new technology there are trade-offs and this work reports on an approach to optimize or save in power consumption for such systems. Because the 3D printing process is focused about producing three dimensional (3D) solid objects from a digital file, power consumption is an important consideration. This paper presents the prototype of a heated platform designed for use in higher-end 3D printers. The goal of this prototype was to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the power consumption of a 3D printer by employing an innovative and validated heating circuitry or platform without compromising print quality. For this investigation a 3D printer that has a surface component with dimensions of 10in X 10in is selected. As a baseline for comparison, the calculated power consumption under standard operating conditions is 50W where the source is 12V DC. The paper herein expands on key design parameters, presents the preliminary design calculations, and describes comparable products researched and statistical improvements over those products. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.