REAL TIME FUTURE OF DIGITAL MANUFACTURING WITH ENDER 3 PRINTER FOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Digital manufacturing has transformed conventional product-development processes by enabling rapid conversion of digital designs into physical components. Additive manufacturing, particularly Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), provides an economical and flexible method for producing functional prototypes, customized components, fixtures, and small-batch products. This research presents the application of an Ender 3-series 3D printer for product development and evaluates its potential role in real-time digital manufacturing. The proposed methodology integrates computer-aided design (CAD), slicing, additive manufacturing, dimensional inspection, and functional evaluation into a single product-development workflow. A representative product component is designed in CAD software and converted into an STL/3MF model before being processed using slicing software. The resulting G-code is transferred to the Ender 3 printer, which fabricates the component layer by layer using thermoplastic filament. Important manufacturing parameters such as layer height, infill percentage, printing speed, nozzle temperature, and bed temperature are investigated. The experimental results indicate that the Ender 3 platform can significantly reduce prototype-development time and material consumption compared with conventional machining for suitable low-volume components. The representative prototype achieved acceptable dimensional accuracy and surface quality while providing rapid design iteration. The study demonstrates that desktop FDM printing can support real-time product-development decisions by enabling designers to manufacture, inspect, modify, and reprint components within a short development cycle.