Microdrilling Studies PLA/Bronze Composite Samples Printed Using Fused Deposition Model

Abstract

Fused deposition models (FDMs) are the latest trends for constructing complicated and instinctive 3D printing. Polylactic acid (PLA) is the most widely used raw material in extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing in many areas since it is biodegradable and environmentally friendly; however, its utilization is limited due to some of its disadvantages such as mechanical weakness and water solubility rate. To increase the mechanical properties of the FDM, nano bronze particles have been added as advanced research. Printing the hole less than a millimetre is complicated, and there is a limited report available in FDM. In this paper, polylactic acid (PLA) with a 14% bronze composite filament is made by hot extruding under the desired FDM conditions. The samples are built with 100% infilled density with 45° orientation to a sample size of 50 × 50 × 10 mm. To examine the printing state and the effect of microdrilling on the printed specimen, two different specimens are printed with and without holes. An industrial drill with specified feed, speed, and cutting width is used to perform the test. The size of the drilled hole is checked by scanning electron microscopy. The quality of the drilled hole and the wear of the tool is investigated and reported. According to the observation, it is noted that the secondary machining operation becomes unavoidable to have a hole of less than a millimetre. Machining, cutting speed, and feed speed influence the delamination zone and the circumference of the hole.