THE INFLUENCE OF CUTTING DEPTH ON SURFACE ROUGHNESS OF 3D PRINTED PARTS

Abstract

The development of additive manufacturing, particularly Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), has enabled rapid prototyping and the production of functional parts with complex geometries. However, FDMprinted components often exhibit high surface roughness due to their layered structure. To enhance the surface quality, post-processing techniques such as CNC milling are applied. Among the key machining parameters, cutting depth (ap) significantly influences the final surface finish. This paper investigates the relationship between cutting depth and surface roughness in post-processed 3D printed parts made from thermoplastic materials. Experimental results and literature data suggest that lower cutting depths result in finer surface finishes due to reduced cutting forces and thermal effects, while higher depths may lead to increased roughness and surface defects. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing cutting parameters to improve the dimensional and surface quality of FDM-produced components.