Drilling parameter optimisation for three-dimensional prints of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

Abstract

Additive manufacturing has revolutionised over the past decade, leading to numerous product innovations. The acrylonitrile butadiene styrene specimen is printed using the fused deposition modelling process. To determine the utility of additive manufacturing parts for final product development, it’s essential to establish optimal drilling process parameters to minimise thrust force and torque. Two different drill geometries were investigated. Drilling with an end mill resulted in a 24.22% decrease in thrust force and a 12.37% reduction in torque compared to using a twist drill geometry. Moreover, factors such as orientation, infill density, feed rate, and drill geometry significantly affect drilling forces and damage.