3D Printer Technology Selection in Rapid Prototyping: A Spherical Fuzzy AHP Approach

Abstract

The aim of this study is to make the best technology decision for an enterprise in the automotive sector that plans to purchase a 3D printer for the purpose of obtaining rapid product prototypes. The study includes seven criteria as accuracy, complex design, surface quality, ease of use, throughput, material cost, and equipment cost, and three alternative technologies as fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering (SLS), and stereolithography (SLA). The weighting of the criteria has been carried out by three experts in the product development department, and the evaluation of alternatives has been carried out by a team of 3D printer manufacturers. The spherical fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (SF-AHP) method is applied in the study. It’s considered important for making the right technology decision in product development processes since this study seeks a solution to a real problem. As a result of the study, while the accuracy criterion is the highest priority, the ease of use of the selected printer is the least priority criterion. On the other hand, SLA 3D printer technology has been seen as the most ideal technology in terms of many criteria for prototyping automotive plastic material parts.