Influence of the Printing Parameters on the Properties of PLA Parts Produced by Fused Filament Fabrication

Abstract

This research aims at specifying the effects of some 3d printing parameters (the layer height, the feed rate, the extrusion temperature, and the raster angle) on some surface and mechanical properties (the ultimate tensile strength, the hardness, and the surface roughness) of PLA specimens produced by 3d printing. The paper starts with brief information about the material used (PLA), then it is followed by a short introduction about the experimental work. The influence of each parameter was specified for each property. It was found that the ultimate tensile strength increases by decreasing the layer height, increasing the feed rate, increasing the extrusion temperature, and using a smaller raster angle. The hardness increases by decreasing the layer height, increasing the feed rate, increasing the extrusion temperature, and using a larger raster angle. The surface roughness increases by increasing the layer height, the feed rate, the extrusion temperature, and using a larger raster angle.