Strain Optical Analysis of 3D Printing Elements in Different Additive Technologies in Comparison with the Finite Element Method

Abstract

Research included in this article were conducted with a project: ‘Additive technology used in conduction with optical methods for rapid prototyping of 3D printed models’. In this article intellectualized three various 3D printing technologies: Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Material Jetting (PolyJet). Also, there was presented theory of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) as an optical method for strain analysis. The limitations of DIC system have been tested and detected. The test result for DIC system were shown for each method of additive technologies and the results were compared to Finite Element Method (FEM). Test specimens were printed in selected technologies for reference. DIC system has been used for displacement state in loaded objects. The last paragraph contains both summary and tests results.