| Abstract Scope |
Stable material extrusion is essential for reliable additive manufacturing, yet it is often disrupted by over- or under-extrusion, flow discontinuities, and clogging. This challenge is critical in extrusion-based systems handling nonhomogeneous flakes and low-quality feedstocks, such as recycled polymers, where maintaining consistent flow is difficult. While computer vision has been explored, many solutions rely on complex sensor setups. In contrast, this work proposes a simplistic stereo-vision system to monitor the extrudate at or below the nozzle and apply real-time G-code adjustments to stabilize flow.
Particularly useful for clog prevention in auger-based systems with large deposition nozzles, the approach scales to process parameter tuning and flow stabilization. Using flow consistency as a proxy for process health, system supports reliable operation with heterogeneous materials. Demonstrated on an auger-based flake-extruding setup, the method limits extrudate variation at the nozzle to within 10% and applies to filament manufacturing, where consistent diameter is critical. |