The Mechanical Properties of Thin-Walled Specimens Printed from a Bronze-Filled PLA-Based Composite Filament Using Fused Deposition Modelling

Abstract

This article focuses on the mechanical property analysis of important models omitted in many scientific papers (thin-walled specimens) printed from innovative material—such as PLA + bronze composite—using fused deposition modelling technology. It discusses the printing process, the measurement of the specimen geometry, the static tensile strength tests and the microscopic examinations conducted with a scanning electron microscope. The findings of this study could be used as an input to further research into the accuracy of filament deposition and the modification of base materials with bronze powder and for the optimization of the machine design, e.g., with the use of cell structures. The experimental results indicated that the thin-walled models fabricated using FDM showed substantial differences in tensile strength, depending on the specimen’s thickness and the printing orientation. It was shown that it was not possible to test thin-walled models located on the building platform along the Z axis due to the lack of sufficient adhesion between the layers.

Flexural Properties of Thin-Walled Specimens with Square Hollow Sections 3D Printed from ABS Reinforced with Aramid Fibers

“…At the same time, comparing the results of the presented research with the previously conducted own work of [28], it can be stated that the software of many 3D printers have some kind of digital gaps. In reference [28], it was noticed that for certain thicknesses of thin-walled samples, there is also no filling or it is in the form of a stitch. The lack of filling occurred despite CAD samples being designed as full.…”

“…The research focused on three-point flexural tests of thin-walled square hollow sections made of AF-reinforced ABS using FDM. Results of the authors' earlier studies on thin-walled elements fabricated with 3D printing were taken into account [26][27][28][29]. The aim of the investigations was to analyze how the wall thickness and print orientation affected the flexural behavior of hollow structural elements printed from ABS reinforced with aramid fiber.…”

Advanced Composite Materials Utilized in FDM/FFF 3D Printing Manufacturing Processes: The Case of Filled Filaments

“…The primary distinction between Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printing lies in the utilization of a thermoplastic filament that is heated and extruded through a nozzle in the former, whereas the latter employs a comparable process but with a broader spectrum of materials, encompassing metals, woods, and ceramics. According to the published literature [ 9 , 10 ], FFF printers are characterized by a higher degree of customization options, which enable users to fine-tune print speed, temperature, and layer height. Conversely, FDM printers are generally considered more user-friendly and require less setup time.…”

The Mechanical Properties of Direct Metal Laser Sintered Thin-Walled Maraging Steel (MS1) Elements

“…Despite the presence of 3D printing in the industry for over 40 years, there is a very big problem related to the construction and production of thin-walled models, including those with a cellular structure. As the research conducted by the authors of earlier articles [ 2 , 3 , 4 ] showed, the mechanical properties of thin-walled models produced with the use of 3D-printing technology largely differ from those determined for solid models with determined quality [ 5 ]. This problem results in the lack of guidelines related to the design of thin-walled models with predicted strength.…”