Paola Michelle Pascua Cantarero, Gustavo Rosales, Alejandra Sanchez

Abstract: The general purpose of this research was to develop a proposal for manufacturing vehicle license plates in Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán, using recycled PETG plastic filament in 3D printing through the use of industrial systems simulation. Part of the objectives was to identify critical stages of the process, for which the initial design of the plates was developed in SolidWorks and subsequently evaluated and adjusted using 3D printers like the Bambu Lab A1, identifying that the appropriate thickness should be at least 4 mm to ensure structural quality and proper layer adhesion and that the average printing time of part A would be 3 hours and 40 minutes, revealing that this factor would be the biggest obstacle to implementing this proposal. Through cost engineering, the economic benefits of manufacturing with recycled PETG were analyzed, demonstrating that this methodology reduces costs while promoting a sustainable and efficient additive manufacturing model. The analysis revealed that the proposed method yields a cost of L.90.53 per plate (this price is based on material cost), this cost being below the current cost of traditional plates which starting price is L.500 for two plates (this price includes all operational costs). The identification of critical stages in the process, supported by simulations, provided valuable insights for future large-scale implementations, offering an economically and environmentally responsible solution to the shortage of vehicle license plates in the country

Keywords: 3D Printing, Recycled PETG, Process Simulation, Additive Manufacturing, Cost Engineering

Date Published: December 19, 2025
DOI: 10.11159/jffhmt.2025.047

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