Influence of production specifications on the mechanical properties of 3D printed polymer elements

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study of the polymer filament manufacturer's influence on the mechanical characteristics of samples manufactured by the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing method. The work aimed to determine the dependence of the strength properties of printed parts on the quality of raw materials from different filament manufacturers when using the same printing parameters. The experiment used four groups of samples of the same type and size, printed from filament from various manufacturers, on the same 3D printing installation with fixed technological parameters.

Mechanical tensile tests with longitudinal force were carried out on the universal testing machine MI-40KU with recording of the stress-strain state of the sample. To quantify the mechanical strength, the tensile elasticity and yield strength, Young's modulus, and elastic and plastic deformation in the yield zone were determined. The results obtained showed a significant variation in mechanical properties depending on the filament supplier, which is due to differences in polymer composition, degree of drying, impurities, and filament manufacturing technology.

The study demonstrates the critical importance of choosing high-quality material when designing and manufacturing critical parts using FDM printing. The data obtained can be used by 3D printing users, for whom it is important to choose not only the right type of filament, but also a manufacturer whose product will satisfy their needs in the manufacture of critical parts. The results demonstrate the importance of preliminary testing of materials before they are used in critical products. In addition, the load and strain graphs confirmed the analytical observations and provided a deeper understanding of the behavior of each type of sample under force loading.