## 1 Introduction  
Additive manufacturing has emerged in recent years as an innovative method driving revolutionary changes in production technologies. Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing methods, additive manufacturing allows for the production of parts with complex geometries by adding material layer by layer. This method offers significant advantages in terms of design freedom, material efficiency, and production speed. Among the various additive manufacturing technologies, filament-based manufacturing is widely used, particularly in engineering and biomedical applications [1, 2]. The most well-known type of filament-based manufacturing is fused deposition modeling (FDM). Initially limited to polymer-based materials, FDM has expanded to metal object production in recent years with the development of metal-infused filaments and advanced nozzle systems [3]. In FDM, thermoplastic or metal filaments are heated to a semi-molten state and deposited layer by layer onto the build platform through a nozzle to create 3D objects. This process is ideal for achieving intricate internal structures and high-resolution surfaces. The BASF 316 L (Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik) [4] filament employed in filament-based manufacturing notably minimizes potential risks, including toxic exposure from fine metal powders that are frequently encountered in laser-based production techniques [5]. In laser-based manufacturing, fine metal powders pose risks due to inhalation and skin contact, as well as potential explosion hazards and toxic exposure. In contrast, filament-based manufacturing embeds metal powders within a polymer matrix, thereby mitigating these risks. Significant advancements have been made in recent years in the production of metal filaments, including those containing 316L stainless steel, 17-PH stainless steel, and Ti6 Al4V [6]. However, there is a need for the optimization and improvement of production processes using these filaments. This study focuses on exploring the potential of additive manufacturing in metal-based applications using 316L stainless steel. Due to its low carbon content, 316L stainless steel offers excellent corrosion resistance, high-temperature performance, and superior mechanical properties, making it ideal for biomedical implants, aerospace, chemical industry equipment, and marine applications [4; 7]. Among metal additive manufacturing methods, technologies such as selective laser sintering (SLS), selective laser melting (SLM), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), direct metal deposition (DMD), and binder jetting are commonly used, while filament-based manufacturing is still emerging. Filament-based manufacturing is much more economical than laser-based methods but requires improvements in thermal processing. This study specifically investigates filament-based manufacturing. Recent studies on 316L stainless steel filament using FDM have examined the effects of layer thickness on mechanical properties. Research indicates that tensile strength increases with decreasing layer thickness, leading to more homogeneous structures [8]. Studies with various layer thicknesses have shown that thinner layers (e.g., 90-100 \(\upmu\)m) provide higher tensile strength and hardness, along with increased density at lower thicknesses [9]. Conversely, thicker layers (300-400 \(\upmu\)m) generally result in lower tensile strength and hardness [10]. The literature highlights that layer thickness is a critical parameter directly influencing the mechanical properties of 316L metal filament, and selecting the correct parameters during the production process can enhance the quality [11; 12]. [PERSON] et al. [11] highlighted the significant impact of printing parameters on the mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy of 316L metal filament printing, specifically noting that layer thickness and raster angle are the most influential factors, with high tensile strength achieved at low layer thickness. [PERSON] et al.