INFLUENCE OF PROCESS PARAMETERS ON MECHANICAL STRENGTHS OF 3D-PRINTED CARBON-PLA BASED COMPOSITES FOR ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The objective of the present work is to study the influence of process parameters on the mechanical behavior of composite material parts developed by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). Carbon-PLA-based composite specimens are used in the present work. Experimental results have shown that with increases in printing temperature from 225°C and 240°C, there is an increase in tensile strength, whereas flexural strength decreases with the temperature rise. The effect of printing orientation is the same on both tensile and flexural strength. Tensile and flexural strengths are higher for flat orientation (0°) than for upright orientation (90°). It is also found that when layer height decreases from 0.3 mm to 0.2 mm, both the tensile and flexural strength increases. The experimental results of the present study signify the importance of Carbon-PLA-based composites for orthotic and prosthetic devices due to their high strength, low cost, and biocompatibility.