THE INFLUENCE OF PROCESSING PARAMETERS ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PLA3D PRINTED PARTS

In this paper, the effect of two process parameters on the mechanical properties of tensile specimens made by FDM was studied. A commercially available PLA filament (produced by Prusa) was used as raw material, from which several sets of specimens were produced, the varied parameters being the raster angle (RA) relative to the longitudinal axis of the specimen and the overflow (OF). Thus, three printing angles were chosen, 0 degrees, 22.5 degrees and 45 degrees, each set of specimens being made with an OF of 95%, 100% and 105% respectively. The printed layer was chosen with a standard thickness of 0.2 mm. For the analysis of the mechanical properties, the specimen sets were subjected to tensile testing on an Instron 3382 machine and the results obtained were interpreted comparatively. Additionally, the fracture surfaces of the specimens were analysed by stereomicroscope. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA analysis of experimental data indicated that both parameters and their interaction significantly influence the specimen weight but, in the case of mechanical properties (modulus of elasticity, yield strength, tensile strength, yield elongation and tensile elongation) were insignificantly influenced by both process parameters. In this context regardless of raster angle, an overflow of 95% provides the same mechanical properties as an overflow of 105%, but at a minimum weight sample.