Experimental optimization of the interlayer bonding of poly (methyl methacrylate) 3D printing substrates

Filament 3D printing is a variant of the material extrusion process that has gained popularity for customized applications in various fields. Poly(methyl methacrylate) filaments have been utilized in 3D printing for the fabrication of bespoke biomedical devices and components without requiring post-treatment. This study introduces an experimental approach to optimize interlayer bonding. Therefore, using a second-order Box-Behnken design of experiments, an experimental window was investigated to optimize interlayer bonding quality by investigating the effects of infill density, printing speed, and nozzle temperature. With optimum parameter values, a bending strength of more than 48 MPa and an average surface roughness of less than 10 µm can be achieved.