A Brief Review of Factors Affecting the Mechanical Properties of Fused Deposition Modelling Part

Abstract

The mechanical properties of fused deposition modelling (FDM) parts are the most common indicator in defining their potential for a specific application. The reason for the low strength of FDM printed parts is that they are not as strong as their conventionally manufactured counterparts. It is an anisotropic characteristic due to the voids between the deposition lines and the low strength of the thermoplastic material. This paper reviews the factors influencing the mechanical properties of FDM parts from various aspects, including the development of new materials such as FDM filament, process parameter optimization, process parameter adjustment, and other methods for achieving better mechanical properties of FDM parts. The results pointed out that the FDM applications are limited by the material available for filament feedstock and the nature of the FDM process that introduces voids between lines. In addition, the review showed that most research conducted on FDM parameters is about the cause-and-effect relationship but lacks research to relate this effect to the microstructure and mesostructure of FDM parts as well as the mechanism that controls the bonding strength of the part.