Usage of 3D printing technology in centrifugal pumps and material selection

Abstract

The fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique which is one of the 3D printing technologies was used to produce a centrifugal pump impeller. The fabrication and investigation of the impeller were preferred because of its complex geometry and the difficulties encountered in its production. The most commonly used ABS, HIPS, PLA, and carbon fiber filaments were preferred to compare and determine the most suitable material for the production of the impellers. Firstly, mechanical test specimens from four different materials were printed in the 3D printer according to standards. Then the tensile tests and quasi-static punch shear tests (QS-PST) were applied to determine the mechanical properties of the 3D printed parts. Also, the mechanical tests were repeated to some specimen with the different fillings to define the optimum fill rates. Secondly, the impellers were fabricated from four materials by using the 3D printer in determined fill rates. Then, these impellers were mounted in the actual pump system, and pump performance tests were performed. In the pump performance tests, the head, pump efficiency, and electric power parameters were measured against the flow rate for each impeller. Finally, the mechanical properties and pump performance of the impellers compared with the GG25 cast iron impeller which is produced by traditional technique. As a result, PLA was selected as the most appropriate material for the production of the impellers. Furthermore, PLA showed superior performance compared to others when price, production time, and product weight parameters were considered.