Digital fabrication with FDM 3D printing on prototype development of toys: Additive manufacturing and sustainability

Abstract

Additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D printing, is currently one of the most dominant developments in the manufacturing sector. Consumer demands for more customized goods and services, in conjunction with the emergence of advanced manufacturing technologies, are influencing changes in the scope and distribution of manufacturing. In this work, the function of digital fabrication, one of these advanced manufacturing process technologies, is examined. The Digital Manufacturing and even other advanced manufacturing technologies have a significant footprint in all future manufacturing endeavours because of the robustness and mass customization that they provide. The Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is a sustainable method used extensively for the development of prototypes for toys. The present study investigates the potential of FDM process as a method for prototype development. Additionally the advantages of FDM process from the viewpoint of sustainable manufacturing integrating innovativeness and do-it-yourself approach at home driven by consumer demand for products such as toys will also be investigated. 3D printing technology such as FDM process, where objects such as toy prototypes are constructed by adding materials layer by layer has been in the forefront of various Digital Manufacturing techniques as it reduces material wastage thereby optimizing resource utilization.

Keywords

• additive manufacturing
• fdm
• model development
• digital production