Establish Functions

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Overall Function

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Convert a digital 3D model into a physical object by depositing material layer by layer.

Functions

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1.Receive 3D design- Accept the digital model and printing instructions.

2.Process printing instructions- Convert the digital design into instructions for the printer.

3.Store and supply material- Hold and continuously supply filament to the printing system.

4.Heat the material- Raise the filament to the required temperature for extrusion.

5.Move the printing mechanism- Move the print head accurately along the required X, Y and Z directions.

6.Extrude material- Push the heated filament through the nozzle at a controlled rate.

7.Deposit material- Place the material accurately on the print bed to form each layer.

8.Support the printed object- Provide a stable surface for the object during printing.

9.Control temperature- Maintain the required temperature of the nozzle and other heated components.

10.Control the printing process- Coordinate material flow, movement and temperature throughout the print.

11.Cool the deposited material- Cool the material so that each deposited layer solidifies properly.

12.Provide structural stability- Support all components and minimize unwanted vibrations during printing.

13.Protect the user- Reduce risks from hot, moving and electrical components.

14.Complete the printed object- Allow the finished object to cool and be removed from the print bed.

Function tree

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Functional Clustering

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Sub systems

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Establishing Means -Morphological Chart

Serial No.	Subfunctions	Means 1	Means 2	Means 3	Means 4
1	To supply printing material	Filament spool	Direct drive feeder	Bowden feeder	Dual gear feeder
2	X,Y,Z-axis movement	Lead screw	Belt pulley	Linear rail	Ball screw
3	Motion motor	Stepper motor	Closed-loop stepper	Servo motor	DC motor with encoder
4	Controller	Arduino	ESP32	Raspberry Pi	STM32 32-bit board
5	Printing technology	Fused deposition modeling (FDM)	Stereolithography (SLA)	Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)	Direct Ink Writing (DIW)
6	Build plate	Aluminium plate	Steel plate	Polyetherimide (PEI) plate	Borosilicate glass
7	Material filament	Polylactic acid (PLA)	Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)	Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)	Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG)