The Impact Strength of Parts Created Using Fused Deposition Modeling
Disciplines
Manufacturing | Polymer and Organic Materials | Structural Materials
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Additive manufacturing (AM) has been increasingly popular in today’s industries, and a popular method within the AM sector is Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) or commonly known as 3D printing. Despite many benefits offered through this process, issues with mechanical performance, optimization, and inability to predict failure of the manufactured parts are preventing FDM from being widely used. Raster angle and infill density are two of the most important variables in influencing the mechanical strength of components that are subjected to impact loads. This study aims to examine how the above two factors affect the impact of resistance of parts made of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). Specimens were produced with different infill densities of 25, 50, 75, and 100%, while the raster angle was varied across 0-90°, 30-60°, and 45-45°, resulting in a total of 12 unique arrangements. The impact strength of each sample was tested to analyze the relationship between infill density, raster angle, and material performance under impact conditions. The preliminary results indicate that an increase in infill density correlates with higher impact resistance, as specimens with higher infill density demonstrate better fracture behavior. Furthermore, among specimens with the same infill density, those manufactured with a raster angle of 30-60° exhibited better impact resistance. This indicates that optimizing the raster angle and choosing the right infill density could improve the energy absorption and stress distribution for parts produced using FDM. This result provides important understanding regarding the mechanical enhancement of FDM components, which may enhance their usability in sectors that demand durable, impact resistant materials. Future studies will investigate the fabrication and optimization of powder-based feedstocks for metal and ceramic additive manufacturing, focusing on compounding techniques, particle size distribution, and material characterization.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Engineering Technology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Aaron Adams
The Impact Strength of Parts Created Using Fused Deposition Modeling
Additive manufacturing (AM) has been increasingly popular in today’s industries, and a popular method within the AM sector is Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) or commonly known as 3D printing. Despite many benefits offered through this process, issues with mechanical performance, optimization, and inability to predict failure of the manufactured parts are preventing FDM from being widely used. Raster angle and infill density are two of the most important variables in influencing the mechanical strength of components that are subjected to impact loads. This study aims to examine how the above two factors affect the impact of resistance of parts made of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). Specimens were produced with different infill densities of 25, 50, 75, and 100%, while the raster angle was varied across 0-90°, 30-60°, and 45-45°, resulting in a total of 12 unique arrangements. The impact strength of each sample was tested to analyze the relationship between infill density, raster angle, and material performance under impact conditions. The preliminary results indicate that an increase in infill density correlates with higher impact resistance, as specimens with higher infill density demonstrate better fracture behavior. Furthermore, among specimens with the same infill density, those manufactured with a raster angle of 30-60° exhibited better impact resistance. This indicates that optimizing the raster angle and choosing the right infill density could improve the energy absorption and stress distribution for parts produced using FDM. This result provides important understanding regarding the mechanical enhancement of FDM components, which may enhance their usability in sectors that demand durable, impact resistant materials. Future studies will investigate the fabrication and optimization of powder-based feedstocks for metal and ceramic additive manufacturing, focusing on compounding techniques, particle size distribution, and material characterization.