Thermal Control of Filament Supply in FFF/FDM 3D Printing Technology

In this work, a method for thermal control of filament supply in FFF/FDM 3D printing technology is presented. Thermal control method for filament supply is used to detect and avoid 3D printing process blocking caused by extruder jamming. Method is based on real-time temperature feedback from the 3D printer extruder. Two control parameters are continuously followed, first is the extruder thermal time-constant and second is the extruder heater switching frequency. Both parameters provide accurate feedback information on material flow through extruder and detects unwonted jamming during the 3D printing process. Correlation between filament material supply speed and control parameters has been established and presented. Control method does not require additional hardware equipment and uses embedded 3D printer extruder sensors and controllers.