ABSTRACT

The present chapter focuses on advancements made to enhance the functionality of FDM parts for customized applications. FDM, in recent years, has emerged to be the most versatile and simple technology having the capability to utilise a wide range of materials as per requirement. Although the surface quality of FDM parts is not up to a satisfactory level, it can be refined through various techniques that have been discussed in detail. An advanced surface finishing technique called vapour smoothing has been studied in depth. The coupled FDM and vapour smoothing processes have a potential to ameliorate the surface of plastic parts, which can be used as patterns for investment casting to fabricate tailor-made products. The chapter also aims to assist prospective researchers with mathematical models to predict and control surface properties such as roughness, hardness and accuracy. The mathematical models have been derived using a systematic procedure of the Buckingham Pi method and are also validated through graphical representations.