Effect of changing printing parameters on mechanical properties of printed PLA and Nylon 645

Abstract

Nowadays, 3 Dimensional (3D) Printing is an effective and fast way to fabricate prototypes. It can fabricate desired shape by layering multiple thin layers using various types of plastics. Making objects with 3D printing are faster and less expensive than the existed ways like machining, molding and etc. But 3D printed objects are not considered as high robustness because of making method of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) such as 3D printing. Following experiments are planned to compare the strength of 3D printed objects. In this research, Nylon 645 and blue, green, brown, blue colored Polylactic Acid (PLA) filaments are used to fabricate tensile and compression test specimens. First, specimens are tested to investigate a relationship between filament colors, extrude temperature and strength. Second, tensile test is conducted to investigate a relationship between the rate of infill and strength using PLA and Nylon 645 specimens. Third, compression test is conducted to investigate a relationship between the rate of infill and strength using PLA and Nylon 645 specimens. This research shows that extrude temperature does not affect strength and each colored PLA filaments have their own strengths. Brown colored PLA is strongest of the PLA filament in this experiment. Rate of infill affects strength significantly. As infill rate become higher, Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), Ultimate Compressive Strength (UCS), and Young’s modulus also become higher. The results of this research will help designing objects which be made with 3D print to be loaded.