Custom design of furniture elements by fused filament fabrication

Abstract

© 2016 Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Additive manufacturing technologies enable rapid prototyping of different parts, according to the three-dimensional model software solution. This paper presents some aspects of fused deposition modeling technology and its application in the wood industry. The fused deposition modeling technology was initially developed for three-dimensional printing of plastic parts, whereas acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polylactic acid plastics filament are commonly applied. Possibilities for application of different composites with fused deposition modeling in the wood industry are reviewed and presented in this paper. Several industrial applications were considered also, from aspects of material durability, mechanical strength, low cost, and customization. Directions of further research have been discussed, considering graphene and carbon nanotubes as composite reinforcement materials and bio-organic composites with wooden particles or fibers mixed into the polymer matrix. Development of new composites for use with the fused deposition modeling technology is promising area taking into account that new low-cost extruders are already commercially available, as a support to fused deposition modeling device. Three-dimensional printing is very convenient for investigation of different custom-made composite materials, as well as custom shapes of final parts, starting from powders, their mixing, drawing of composite material filament, which are further used for three-dimensional printing with solidification and fabrication of custom-made products. New composites for fused deposition modeling, made of wood and plastic combinations were experimentally investigated for use as functional and customized elements of furniture. Obtained results strongly indicated that both new composite materials and fused deposition modeling printing can be efficiently used for broad customization from aspects of material properties and product shapes, thus enabling low-cost fabrication of small series of complex furniture elements, especially fixtures or clamp tools.