Open-Source Low-cost Melt Flow Indexer
Material testing tool (Flowability properties)
Overview
This open-source material-testing tool, a Melt Flow Index (MFI) tester, provides an accessible and cost-effective system for evaluating melt-flow behavior of polymer-based feedstocks intended for additive-manufacturing processes. Its design enables fabrication with low-cost 3D printers and basic off-the-shelf parts, supporting comparative analysis of recycled and virgin polymers, recycled blends, and other extrusion-based feedstocks. By enabling accessible characterization of flow properties and processing behavior, this tool facilitates iterative material development and preliminary quality assessment in distributed recycling for additive manufacturing contexts. 1
Liu, D., Romani, A., Pearce, J.M. 2024. Open Source MFI. Project repository. Available at OSF.io. DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/68HBJ
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Licenses:
- Hardware: GPL-3.0-Only (More info)
- Software: GPL-3.0-Only (More info)
- Documentation: GPL-3.0-Only (More info)
Materials and Tools
- ⚙️ 3D modeling: SolidWorks (CAD design) 2
- 🔩 Slicing and fabrication: PrusaSlicer 3 , Small-format Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printer.
- 📎 Materials: PLA and PETG Filaments tested for rigid parts, PETG recommended.
- 🔩 Additional off-the-shelf: to be added to the product for the intended use (Please refer to the documentation in the repository).
SolidWorks. Available at: https://www.solidworks.com/
PrusaSlicer. Available at: https://www.prusa3d.com/page/prusaslicer_424/
Publications
Low-Cost Open-Source Melt Flow Index System for Distributed Recycling and Additive Manufacturing
Dawei Liu, Aditi Basdeo, Catalina Suescun Gonzalez, Alessia Romani, Hakim Boudaoud, Cécile Nouvel, Fabio A. Cruz Sanchez, Joshua M. Pearce*
Materials, vol. 17(23), 2024 Dec, p. 5966