Investigation of Part Quality Achieved by Material Extrusion Printers in Relation to Their Price

Users of material extrusion printers are faced with a wide range of prices. It is unknown which printer price can achieve the required part quality. However, the price and the resulting quality of a printer are decisive factors for the process, especially at small- and medium-sized companies. This study investigated the correlation between the printer price and part quality based on dimensional accuracy, surface quality, strength, and visual appearance. In this paper, 14 printers with different prices were examined. The relationship of printer price and part defects, elongation at break, and the accuracy of roundings could be identified (the regressions achieved a p-value under 0.5 and an R-2 over 0.4). A relationship with surface roughness, tensile strength, or other dimensional accuracy characteristics could not be found (the regressions achieved an R-2 under 0.4 or anomalies could be detected in the regression analysis). In the performed investigations, more-expensive printers were not necessarily associated with an improvement in these quality characteristics. No relationship between the printer price and the standard deviation, e.g., less variation in part quality, could be identified. This paper provides valuable insights into the relationship of part quality and printer price. The performed research improved upon the existing literature in terms of the number of investigated printers, the observed price range, and the number of tested quality characteristics. The results and approach of this paper will help users select an appropriate printer, and the findings can be used in the sourcing and technology selection phases.