Finite Element Analysis on Vacuum Chamber for Fused Deposition Modeling Applications
S.Maidin1, J.H.U.Wong2, A.S. Mohamed3, W.F.A.Romlee4, S.Sivarao5

1S.Maidin, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia.
2J.H.U.Wong, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
3A.S. Mohamed, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia.
4W.F.A.Romlee, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia.
5S.Sivarao, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia.
Manuscript received on 24 May 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 11 June 2019 | Manuscript Published on 26 June 2019 | PP: 22-27 | Volume-8 Issue-1S5 June 2019 | Retrieval Number: A00050681S519/2019©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: In general, fused deposition modeling (FDM) process is operated either in enclosed or open space to produce physical polymer parts. Hence, environmental factors such as air quality, temperature and humidity cannot be well-controlled. Consequently, these factors will indirectly affect the quality build of FDM printed parts. Vacuum technology has been used in a wide variety of applications to create space devoid of matter. Despite numerous studies on vacuum chamber, there is no investigation on FDM operated in a vacuum chamber. This paper presents an approach to the design and analysis of vacuum chamber to sustain medium vacuum pressure for FDM monitoring and applications. The inner vacuum chamber required to be 1.325 kPa (medium vacuum) which will lead to external compressive forces of 100 kPa. Thus, to sustain the sufficient amount of pressure, design specifications such as design, size, shape, material, safety factor, displacement and stress value will be considered in the design stage. The finite element analysis (FEA) from the simulation result shows that the rectangular vacuum chamber using Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) material is able to sustain the 100 kPa with 1.7 safety factor and maximum displacement of 7.02 mm. In future, this study can be used to aid performance study on the mechanical strength of FDM printed parts.
Keywords: Fused Deposition Modeling, Vacuum Chamber and Finite Element Analysis.
Scope of the Article: Manufacturing Processes