Session: DTM-04-01 - Inclusive Design

Paper Number: 91011

91011 - Universal Design Analysis for Improving the Usability of Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printers 

3D printing has experienced growing popularity with people including engineering professionals, hobbyists, artists, and teachers. In order to accommodate a variety of users, the concept of usability, the effectiveness of a user’s interaction with the printer, must be considered. With the customizability of 3D modeling, there is potential for 3D printing to be utilized in the home for various applications. However, physical limitations such as hand strength, ability to stand, and vision pose challenges for some learning this new technology. User focused design efforts such as universal design, i.e. the idea of appealing design for all age groups or abilities, have largely focused on software improvements. This research intends to direct attention to operating the physical 3D printer in order to expand its field of use. The first analysis focused on universal design and identifying physical challenges of the human body as it moves to interact with fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printers. A brief thermal analysis was also conducted to identify major burn hazards of FFF technology. Following such background analysis was survey development in order to better summarize consumer needs in major areas of 3D printer troubleshooting. This usability survey was designed to understand difficulties and preferences of 3D printer users to identify where immediate design focus should be placed. After collecting over fifty survey responses, the results present potential benefits beyond this project for other researchers or 3D printer companies to benefit from a better understanding of 3D printer users. As a result, print bed leveling was identified based on Likert scale responses as the major interest area due to both difficulty and frequency of issue occurring. Guidelines, survey results, and print bed leveling design improvements are intended to lead the continuation of research for more user-friendly options that broaden the possibilities of consumer 3D printing.

Presenting Author: Charlotte De Vries The Pennsylvania State University - Erie

Presenting Author Biography: Charlotte de Vries is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State Behrend. She received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts in 2009. She received her M.S. (2013) and Ph.D. (2014) in Mechanical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. de Vries’s research interests lie in design methodology, specifically medical design and design for human variability (DfHV). DfHV promotes the design of artifacts, tasks, and environments that are accessible, safe, and economical for users of all demographics. Her doctoral dissertation focused on quantifying the variability of scapula in order to model changes in shape due to the effects of osteoarthritis in order to provide surgeons and implant designers with suggestions to improve surgical outcomes. Her current research has focused on concept generation, accessibility in 3D printing, and effectively teaching first-year engineering with hands-on design projects. Dr. de Vries was recently named Erie 40 Under 40: Class of 2020 and received a 2017 Marshall Space Flight Faculty Fellowship at NASA.

Authors:

Rebecca Grey Penn State Erie
Swapnil Sinha Penn State
Charlotte De Vries The Pennsylvania State University - Erie