Real-Time Cooling Rate Characterization in Fused Deposition Modeling Using a Non-Contact Infrared Temperature Sensor
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61952/jlabw.v2i3.566Keywords:
Thyroid Hormones, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Renal Failure, Hemodialysis, Thyroid Dysfunction, Kidney FunctionAbstract
Temperature history during the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process is a critical factor influencing the cooling dynamics of the extruded filament, interlayer adhesion, and final part quality. Traditional contact-based sensors such as K-type thermocouples face limitations including low sampling rate and interference with the process, making them unsuitable for capturing rapid solidification events of materials like PLA. This study presents a real-time experimental investigation of the cooling rate of polylactic acid (PLA) during fused deposition modeling (FDM) using a non-contact infrared sensor, the MLX90614 infrared temperature sensor. A low-cost Arduino-based data acquisition system was developed to monitor the transient thermal behavior of the deposited filament immediately after extrusion. The sensor was positioned in a trailing configuration relative to the nozzle to capture post-deposition temperature evolution without interfering with the printing process. Cooling rate was quantified using numerical differentiation of time-resolved temperature data. The results reveal a highly transient cooling regime characterized by steep initial thermal gradients followed by asymptotic decay. The findings highlight the critical role of early-stage cooling in governing interlayer bonding and provide a practical framework for thermal monitoring and process optimization in FDM.
References
Cano-Vicent, A., Tambuwala, M. M., Hassan, S. S., Barh, D., Aljabali, A. A., Birkett, M., ... & Serrano-Aroca, Á. (2021). Fused deposition modelling: Current status, methodology, applications and future prospects. Additive manufacturing, 47, 102378.
Paul, A. K., Chakraborty, G., Borkotoky, S. S., & Prasad, A. (2025). Degradation Studies of Bioabsorbable Polymeric Composites. In Bioabsorbable Polymers for Drug Carriers and Fixation Devices (pp. 105-128). Apple Academic Press.
Plamadiala, I., Croitoru, C., Pop, M. A., & Roata, I. C. (2025). Enhancing polylactic acid (PLA) performance: A review of additives in fused deposition modelling (FDM) filaments. Polymers, 17(2), 191.
Shanto, T. A., Ahmed, R., Patel, P., Zulqernine, M. J., Chen, V., Jain, A., & Taylor, R. M. (2026). In-situ annealing and thermal-morphological evolution during extrusion-based additive manufacturing. Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 170, 303-318.
Vanaei, H. R., Shirinbayan, M., Deligant, M., Khelladi, S., & Tcharkhtchi, A. (2021). In-process monitoring of temperature evolution during fused filament fabrication: A journey from numerical to experimental approaches. Thermo, 1(3), 332-360.
Penumakala, P. K., Santo, J., & Thomas, A. (2020). A critical review on the fused deposition modeling of thermoplastic polymer composites. Composites Part B: Engineering, 201, 108336.
Shanmugam, V., Babu, K., Kannan, G., Mensah, R. A., Samantaray, S. K., & Das, O. (2024). The thermal properties of FDM printed polymeric materials: A review. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 228, 110902.
Alzahrani, A. S., Khan, M., & He, F. (2025). Fundamentals of Cooling Rate and Its Thermodynamic Interactions in Material Extrusion. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing, 9(12), 412.
Abbott, S., Hernandez, K., Bertelsen, R., Farzaneh, O. H., Bischoff, A., Dingus, D., ... & Roach, D. J. (2026). In-situ Process Monitoring and Control of Laser Directed Energy Deposition using Thermal Imaging and Computer Vision. Journal of Materials Research and Technology.
Lewis, J., & Moore, A. L. (2021). In situ infrared temperature sensing for real-time defect detection in additive manufacturing. Additive Manufacturing, 47, 102328.
Suresh, V., Balasubramaniam, B., Yeh, L. H., & Li, B. (2025). Recent advances in in situ 3D surface topographical monitoring for additive manufacturing processes. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing, 9(4), 133.
Melexis. (2025). MLX90614 family: Single and dual zone infra red thermometer in TO-39 (Rev. 012) [Data sheet]. https://www.melexis.com/-/media/files/documents/datasheets/mlx90614-datasheet-melexis.pdf
O’Sullivan, C. T. (1990). Newton’s law of cooling—A critical assessment. Am. J. Phys, 58(10), 956-960.
Seppala, J. E., & Migler, K. D. (2016). Infrared thermography of welding zones produced by polymer extrusion additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing, 12, 71-76.
Shanmugam, V., Babu, K., Kannan, G., Mensah, R. A., Samantaray, S. K., & Das, O. (2024). The thermal properties of FDM printed polymeric materials: A review. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 228, 110902.
Sun, Q., Rizvi, G. M., Bellehumeur, C. T., & Gu, P. (2008). Effect of processing conditions on the bonding quality of FDM polymer filaments. Rapid prototyping journal, 14(2), 72-80.
Zhang, Y., & Chou, K. (2008). A parametric study of part distortions in fused deposition modeling using three-dimensional finite element analysis. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 222(8), 959-968.
Mechanisms and Applications of 3D Printing: A Comprehensive Exploration of Additive Manufacturing Technology. (2025). Comprehensive Journal of Humanities and Educational Studies, 1(1), 28-36. https://doi.org/10.65420/cjhes.v1i1.9


