Influence of 3D printing architecture using FDM in the PLA mechanical properties

Abstract

Developed in the 1990s, rapid prototyping technologies and applications went through a major growth and sophistication. Among all of additive manufacturing (AM) processes, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is one of the most commercially important processes based on extrusion. AM has excelled as a disruptive technology that can significantly change the manufacture process. The success of this technology is closely related to the correct choice of materials since its use is only possible if the materials can achieve the requirements for the application. Furthermore, an adequate infill architecture can together with the right material lead to the requisite of the application, based on concepts of Macromechanics. This project will investigate the influence of printing parameters in the mechanical and morphological properties of PLA. For this purpose, parts will be printed using different printing parameters (build orientation, infill percentage and internal architecture) and subjected to tensile, flexure, impact and compression tests. With the results, it is intended to correlate the properties of the printed parts with the injected ones in order to suppress some of the existing gaps in the study of FDM materials and provide benefits to AM optimization. (AU)