Universal Design Analysis for Improving the Usability of Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printers

To accommodate a variety of users with the growing popularity of 3D printing technology, the concept of usability; the effectiveness of a user’s interaction with the product, must be considered. A seamless user interaction with the currently available commercial 3D printer systems assumes that the users have the required hand strength, ability to stand, and vision, which could be challenging for some learning this new technology. This research intends to utilize the principles of universal design, i.e., the idea of appealing design for all age groups or abilities towards operating the physical 3D printer in order to expand its field of use. Physical challenges of the human body as it moves to interact with desktop fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printers were investigated. Following that, a survey was collected, to understand the perspective of 3D printer users in terms of challenges faced while interacting with the machine and troubleshooting them. The survey indicated that users found print bed levelling the most challenging task. As a result, the redesign process for print bed leveling was initiated by the development of design specifications. This paper attempts to shed light on potential improvements that can be made in commercially available desktop systems by implementing universal design guidelines, such that the technology is accessible to a larger population. The process used in this paper is applicable for redesign of any existing product for Universal Design.