Exploring the impact of printing speed and ambient temperature on support-free rod extrusion

Stringing and Z-direction weakness are common issues encountered in the 3D printing of lattice structures. Existing studies have largely focused on support reduction for general overhanging structures, but limited attention has been given to the fabrication of support-free inclined rods, particularly at wide-ranging overhang angles. This research aims to fill this gap by systematically investigating the effects of printing speed and ambient temperature using both simulation modeling and experimental validation. The results demonstrated that adjusting printing speed and ambient temperature can significantly enhance the quality of printed parts. Specifically, slower printing speeds contribute to improved structural stability and geometric precision, while appropriately lowering the ambient temperature accelerates material solidification, reducing deformation caused by excessive heat and enhancing overall formation quality. Experimental results showed high consistency with simulation outcomes, confirming the reliability of the findings. The study ultimately identified optimal printing speeds across a range of ambient temperatures (-5°C to 55°C) and inclination angles (-30° to 75°), providing a solid foundation for the fabrication of support-free lattice structures.