The effect of orientation on tensile strength 3D printing with ABS and PLA materials

Abstract

3D printing has revolutionized the manufacturing industry, offering unique opportunities for rapid prototyping and customized production. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polylactic Acid (PLA) are widely used thermoplastics in 3D printing due to their versatility and mechanical properties. Tensile strength is a critical mechanical property that determines the load-bearing capacity of printed parts. However, the orientation of the printed layers during the additive manufacturing process can significantly affect the printed parts’ tensile strength and overall mechanical behaviour. The effect of printing orientation on the tensile strength of 3D printed ABS and PLA materials was investigated. The printing orientation of printed tensile samples varies from 0°, 45°, and 90°, layer thickness of 0.1 mm, and refers to ASTM D638 standard. Tensile testing is carried out with the Tensilon machine. The results showed that the orientation influence the tensile strength of the ABS and PLA samples. The change of orientation from 0° to 90° causes a decrease in tensile strength of 44.3% of ABS and 52.8% of PLA materials. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into the mechanical behaviour of 3D printed parts and inform design considerations for optimizing printing orientations to achieve enhanced tensile strength.