The issue of residual stresses in additive technologies

Abstract

The paper considers the issue of residual stresses in 3D-printed plastic models. Most additive technologies create residual stresses in products. Residual stresses occur in the printed material due to its expansion when heated and contraction when cooled. Residual stresses and their intensity depend on the printing technology and technique. The paper discusses the impact of printing techniques and various printing nozzle diameters and model shapes (rectangular, circular) on the occurrence of residual stresses in specimens. As part of the study, in transparent models, residual stresses were detected using a PPU-7 polarization-projection unit. Two series of six specimens each have been printed. The first and second series models had the shape of a parallelepiped and a disk, respectively. The frequency-division multiplexing technology was chosen. In the study, the models were manufactured from a polyethylene terephthalate-glycol plastic filament. This material has a high optical sensitivity. Nozzles of two diameters (0.4 and 1 mm) were used to print specimens. Shell-less and singleand double-shell specimens were printed. The dependence of residual stresses on the specimen shape, the printing nozzle diameter, and the model shell thickness has been estimated. The study is focused on finding a technique for printing models from plastic filament, completely free of residual stresses in the specimen material. This is dictated by the photoelasticity requirements for piezo-optical materials, including some transparent plastics used in 3D printing.