An Empirical Benchmark for Resource Use in Fused Deposition Modelling 3D Printing of Isovolumetric Mechanical Components

The lack of detailed process information such as part shape, process setups, and process efficiencies limit the accuracy of life cycle inventory models that are used for estimating environmental impacts of manufacturing processes. Such limitations are particularly true for processes such as additive manufacturing, where part shape significantly influences the resulting process characteristics. To address the above knowledge gap, this paper investigates the influence of part shape on process inventory of fused deposition modeling 3D printing. To this end, we experimentally measured the resource consumption for printing 68 different isovolumetric mechanical components with identical print settings. These results are presented in a structured form, titled “Resource Use for 3D Printing Isovolumetric Mechanical Components (r3DiM) Benchmark”, that includes our experimental data, 3D model files, NC code used for printing the models, and layer-wise energy consumption of the heaters of the bed & extruder, material use, and other printing peripherals of each object. It is our hope that the r3DiM benchmark will serve as a reference of future researchers interested in creating shape-aware, predictive life cycle inventory models for fused deposition modeling 3D printing processes. The r3DiM benchmark can be accessed from the following url: https://tinyurl.com/r3DiMBenchmark.