This paper aims to investigate the influence of the manufacturing stages on three-dimensionally printed elements via material extrusion (MEX).
Three factors were identified: the printer, slicer and filament. The impact of each of them was considered by analysing the results from tensile tests, performed on the printed specimens. Using the Prusa MK3S and Anet A6 printers, Cura and PrusaSlicer software as well as Prusa and Plast-Spaw filaments allowed to determine the main factor which affected the differences in the observed sample responses. Additionally, two manufacturing parameters were considered: the infill density and layer height.
The obtained results showed that the experimental results depend on the process parameters. Firstly, the slicer and next, the printer, had the biggest impact on the mechanical behaviour of the samples, where the first determined the stiffness of the investigated parameter and the second determined its distribution. Finally, the presented results showed that the algorithms implemented in the slicers can have a greater significance that the defined inputs value.
The paper’s aim is recognition of the main sources of inaccuracies in elements produced via the MEX technology. The presented results showed that slicer inputs influenced the mean values of the printed elements’ mechanical parameters, while the printer features affected their distribution. Moreover, the results showed that mechanical behaviours of printed elements can differ significantly depending on the software used. It could explain the discrepancies presented in the conclusions by various researchers.
