Mechanical Properties Of 3D Printed Parts Research Articles

Estimation and validation of elastic constants in fused filament fabrication 3D printing: From mesoscale to macroscale

Evaluating the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts is a cumbersome task. This study poses an approach based on computational homogenization to estimate the elastic constants of fused filament fabrication 3D-printed parts. A whole methodology for characterization and experimental validation is necessary to improve finite element numerical models.Samples are characterized both mechanically and geometrically. To improve the characterization, novel algorithms based on micro-computed tomography images and image segmentation techniques are implemented. Thereafter, elastic constants are estimated, informed by the characterization results. The method’s effectiveness is assessed through a deep comparison, based on the digital image correlation technique, between different experimental samples and finite element models.Results show that the numerical estimation provided in this work is accurate enough to develop realistic finite element models, including anisotropy of the structures. However, defects and voids developed during 3D printing are an important source of error for these numerical models.This work provides an estimation and validation of elastic constants in 3D-printed parts, including geometrical characterization, numerical homogenization and experimental validation. The results of this work provide valuable information encompassing techniques to improve the characterization of 3D-printed parts, tendencies on elastic constants, and main sources of error

Effect of Thermal Shock Conditions on the Low-Cycle Fatigue Performance of 3D-Printed Materials: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Acrylonitrile-Styrene-Acrylate, High-Impact Polystyrene, and Poly(lactic acid).

3D printing technology is becoming a widely adopted alternative to traditional polymer manufacturing methods. The most important advantage of 3D printing over traditional manufacturing methods, such as injection molding or extrusion, is the short time from the creation of a new design to the finished product. Nevertheless, 3D-printed parts generally have lower strength and lower durability compared to the same parts manufactured using traditional methods. Resistance to the environmental conditions in which a 3D-printed part operates is important to its durability. One of the most important factors that reduces durability and degrades the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts is temperature, especially rapid temperature changes. In the case of inhomogeneous internal geometry and heterogeneous material properties, rapid temperature changes can have a significant impact on the degradation of 3D-printed parts. This degradation is more severe in high-humidity environments. Under these complex service conditions, information on the strength and fatigue behavior of 3D-printed polymers is limited. In this study, we evaluated the effects of high humidity and temperature changes on the durability and strength properties of 3D-printed parts. Samples made of commonly available materials such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), ASA (Acrylonitrile-Styrene-Acrylate), HIPS (High-Impact Polystyrene), and PLA (Poly(lactic acid)) were subjected to temperature cycling, from an ambient temperature to -20 °C, and then were heated to 70 °C. After thermal treatment, the samples were subjected to cyclic loading to determine changes in their fatigue life relative to non-thermally treated reference samples. The results of cyclic testing showed a decrease in durability for samples made of ASA and HIPS. The ABS material proved to be resistant to the environmental effects of shocks, while the PLA material exhibited an increase in durability. Changes in the internal structure and porosity of the specimens under temperature changes were also evaluated using microcomputed tomography (microCT). Temperature changes also affected the porosity of the samples, which varied depending on the material used.

Effects of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid: Study of competition between crystallization and interlayer bonding

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a popular additive manufacturing technique because of its flexibility, customization, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness. However, due to the layer-by-layer fabrication process and the formation of voids, the mechanical properties of printed parts are lower than other manufacturing techniques. As a solution, heat treatments can effectively mitigate additive manufacturing limitations and improve the mechanical properties of printed parts. The interlayer bonding and subsequently mechanical properties of 3D-printed PLA were affected by the competition between crystallization and chain diffusion of 3D-printed polylactic acid during the heat treatment process. This competition highlights the importance of optimization of heat treatment. Additionally, crystallite growth could cause a reduction in some mechanical properties, like elongation. The size, distribution, and content of voids are also influenced by heat treatment, playing a crucial role in the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts. In this research, printed samples were heat-treated at temperatures of 75 ºC, 110 ºC, and 130 ºC for two hours. Furthermore, compression-molded samples were fabricated to inspect a comparison of mechanical properties between the traditional and additive manufacturing methods and investigate the effect of layer-by-layer fabrication on these properties. Sample AM-75 showed a 15.5% improvement in bonding strength compared to the non-annealed printed sample, resulting in an increase of 20.2% in tensile strength and 275% in impact strength. Moreover, annealing the sample at 130 ºC resulted in a 7.6% reduction in porosity and a significant improvement of 220% in crystallinity, heat deflection temperature, flexural modulus, and flexural strength, with improvements of 121%, 29.5%, and 15.2% respectively.

Influence of anisotropy and walls thickness on the mechanical behavior of 3D printed onyx parts

Predicting the behavior and mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts is crucial for 3D printer users. This study conducted experimental investigations on Onyx 3D-printed parts to identify the most important printing parameters. These parameters were specimen positioning and the number of specimen walls. The experimental results indicated that specimens oriented in the XZ direction were 48% stiffer than those oriented in the XY direction and 54% stiffer than those oriented in the ZX direction. Additionally, the results demonstrated that walls significantly influenced the mechanical properties of specimens in the XY and XZ orientations but had no effect on those in the ZX orientation. The Young's modulus increased by 60% between a specimen with one wall and another with eight walls. This paper presents an analytical model for predicting mechanical properties based on the number of walls, with a prediction error ranging from 1% to 15%. Additionally, a numerical simulation approach was proposed to predict the mechanical behavior of parts. The numerical and experimental results comparison showed a 1% to 9% prediction error and a good correlation between numerical and experimental curves. These findings can be a valuable aid to engineers in the design of 3D printed mechanical concepts.

A review on exploration of the mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed biocomposites fabricated by fused deposition modelling (FDM)

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the current state of biocomposites used in fused deposition modelling (FDM) with a focus on their mechanical characteristics.Design/methodology/approachThe study presents a variety of biocomposite materials that have been used in filaments for 3D printing by different researchers. The process of making filaments is then described, followed by a discussion of the process parameters associated with the FDM.FindingsTo achieve better mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts, it is essential to optimize the process parameters of FDM while considering the characteristics of the biocomposite material. Polylactic acid is considered the most promising matrix material due to its biodegradability and lower cost. Moreover, the use of natural fibres like hemp, flax and sugarcane bagasse as reinforcement to the polymer in FDM filaments improves the mechanical performance of printed parts.Originality/valueThe paper discusses the influence of critical process parameters of FDM like raster angle, layer thickness, infill density, infill pattern and extruder temperature on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed biocomposite.

3D Printing of Flexible Mechanical Metamaterials: Synergistic Design of Process and Geometric Parameters.

Mechanical metamaterials with ultralight and ultrastrong mechanical properties are extensively employed in various industrial sectors, with three-periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures gaining significant research attention due to their symmetry, equation-driven characteristics, and exceptional mechanical properties. Compared to traditional lattice structures, TPMS structures exhibit superior mechanical performance. The mechanical properties of TPMS structures depend on the base material, structural porosity (volume fraction), and wall thickness. Hard rigid lattice structures such as Gyroid, diamond, and primitive exhibit outstanding performance in terms of elastic modulus, energy absorption, heat dissipation, and heat transfer. Flexible TPMS lattice structures, on the other hand, offer higher elasticity and recoverable large deformations, drawing attention for use in applications such as seat cushions and helmet impact-absorbing layers. Conventional fabrication methods often fail to guarantee the quality of TPMS structure samples, and additive manufacturing technology provides a new avenue. Selective laser sintering (SLS) has successfully been used to process various materials. However, due to the layer-by-layer manufacturing process, it cannot eliminate the anisotropy caused by interlayer bonding, which impacts the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts. This paper introduces a process data-driven optimization design approach for TPMS structure geometry by adjusting volume fraction gradients to overcome the elastic anisotropy of 3D-printed isotropic lattice structures. Experimental validation and analysis are conducted using TPMS structures fabricated using TPU material via SLS. Furthermore, the advantages of volume fraction gradient-designed TPMS structures in functions such as energy absorption and heat dissipation are explored.

Investigation of the effect of the degree of hollowness and internal cavity structure on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts

Despite the wide growth of additive manufacturing, it is still very expensive to mass produce 3D-printed parts. The costs can be minimized if the quantity of material required to produce a part can be substantially reduced by introducing hollow cavities into the structure, without compromising its properties. This study investigates the effect of the degree of hollowness and different internal cavity structures on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed materials. Test specimens were prepared with four polymeric materials (i.e., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), carbon fiber-reinforced (CFR) ABS, and CFR PLA) using the fused deposition modeling 3D printing technique. Internal hollow cavities were introduced to the specimens during printing and the specimens were prepared with three different cavity structures (i.e., hexagonal honeycomb, circular drills, and squares), and the degree of hollowness was varied from 0% to 30% in 10% increments. Tensile and flexural properties of the 3D-printed specimens were evaluated and analyzed. The mechanical properties of all specimens were found to decrease with increasing hollowness levels, regardless of the type of material or the internal cavity structure. The hexagonal honeycomb structure showed the best tensile properties out of the three internal cavity structures, while the flexural properties were not significantly affected by the internal cavity structure. The material type had a significant impact on the mechanical properties with PLA exhibiting better tensile and flexural properties than ABS, while their carbon fire reinforced counterparts showed enhanced mechanical properties than pure ABS and PLA.

Numerical and Experimental Analysis of the Mode I Interlaminar Fracture Toughness in Multidirectional 3D-Printed Thermoplastic Composites Reinforced with Continuous Carbon Fiber.

It is well known that the use of continuous reinforcing fibers can largely improve the typical low in-plane mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts. However, there is very limited research on the characterization of the interlaminar fracture toughness of 3D-printed composites. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of determining the mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of 3D-printed cFRP composites with multidirectional interfaces. First, elastic calculations and different FE simulations of Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) specimens (using cohesive elements for the delamination, in addition to an intralaminar ply failure criterion) were carried out to choose the best interface orientations and laminate configurations. The objective was to ensure a smooth and stable propagation of the interlaminar crack, while preventing asymmetrical delamination growth and plane migration, also known as crack jumping. Then, the best three specimen configurations were manufactured and tested experimentally to validate the simulation methodology. The experimental results confirmed that, with the appropriate stacking sequence for the specimen arms, it is possible to characterize the interlaminar fracture toughness in multidirectional 3D-printed composites under mode I. The experimental results also show that both initiation and propagation values of the mode I fracture toughness depend on the interface angles, although a clear tendency could not be established.

Fabrication and Testing of a Vapor Polishing Device for ABS 3D-Printed Parts

Post-processing plays a significant role in improving the surface and mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts. One of these post-processing methods is vapor polishing which utilizes acetone to polish 3D-printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) specimen. This process is usually done using an improvised vapor polishing setup to achieve the desired surface finish of parts. Hence, in order to accomplish a uniform and standard polishing procedure for laboratory use, a vapor polishing device has been developed in this study. To assess the efficiency of the said device, the resulting surface roughness, dimensional accuracy, and tensile strength of ABS 3D-printed polished specimens have been evaluated and compared to unpolished specimen. The surface roughness of the cube specimen was captured using a Trinocular Microscope and was uploaded to the Mountains9 Topography software. Further, the dimensional accuracy of both polished and unpolished specimen has been measured using a digital Vernier Caliper. The data demonstrated that the polished specimen’s surface was enhanced while its shape, geometry, and dimension were preserved. Tensile tests on two (2) sample sets of polished and unpolished specimens revealed that polishing with acetone vapor using this developed device could improve the specimen’s tensile strength.

Utilizing ultrafast lasers for postprocessing to improve mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts

Recent advances in additive manufacturing technologies have already led to the wide-scale adoption of 3D-printed parts in the aerospace, medical, automotive, tooling, and electronics industries. The expansion in choice of materials that can be processed, in particular, using fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering/melting, and stereolithography, and the steady advancements in dimensional accuracy control, have extended the range of applications beyond rapid prototyping. However, additive manufacturing still has considerable limitations compared to traditional and subtractive manufacturing processes. This work addresses limitations associated with the as-deposited surface roughness of 3D-printed parts. The effects of roughness-induced stress concentrations on the mechanical strength were studied, and ultrafast laser postprocessing was utilized to reduce the surface roughness of 3D-printed parts. The samples were manufactured using a commercial desktop FDM system and standard ASTM flat dogbone geometries. The samples were then postprocessed with a high-repetition-rate ultrafast Yb-fiber laser using a multi-layer scan approach. This novel postprocessing method enables high-efficiency material removal without inducing excessive thermal residual stresses into the material and, therefore, is suitable for postprocessing thermally sensitive materials, such as PLA and other polymers as well as parts with engineered porosity. In this work, we vary laser process parameters, such as average power and number of laser-processed layers, to achieve various levels of surface roughness. Values of tensile strength of the specimens were compared between 3D-printed samples featuring initial roughness and laser postprocessed samples with different values of surface roughness. The results indicate that the laser-processed samples exhibit an almost 10% increase in tensile strength depending on specific laser processing parameters.

Structure and Fracture Visualization of Tilted ABS Specimens Processed via Fused Filament Fabrication Additive Manufacturing

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique is one of the most frequently used additive manufacturing (AM) technologies for printing ABS and many other thermoplastic materials. The anisotropy of the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts manufactured by FFF technology is still of major concern when using this technique. Thus, the component’s orientation, build strategy and printing parameters affect the mechanical properties, and failure mechanisms are of crucial importance. This research aims to partly fill this gap by studying the structure and mechanical behavior of FFF-ABS specimens, and by performing fracture surface analysis by the three-point bend flexural test. A series of tests were conducted to determine the flexural properties of tilted specimens at 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 75° inclination angles relative to the machine platform. The work describes manufacture method of the specimens, experimental procedures, and outcomes from the mechanical and structural characterizations of the FFF-ABS specimens. Overall, two main failure modes were observed for the tested specimens: (1) inter-layer/ inter-raster bond failure (typical for upright specimens) and (2) intra-layer/trans-raster failure (typical for on-edge specimens). A mixed inter-layer/ intra-layer mode was found for the specimens tilted in-between the 15o and 60o range.

The Effect of Disinfectants Absorption and Medical Decontamination on the Mechanical Performance of 3D-Printed ABS Parts.

Producing parts by 3D printing based on the material extrusion process determines the formation of air gaps within layers even at full infill density, while external pores can appear between adjacent layers making prints permeable. For the 3D-printed medical devices, this open porosity leads to the infiltration of disinfectant solutions and body fluids, which might pose safety issues. In this context, this research purpose is threefold. It investigates which 3D printing parameter settings are able to block or reduce permeation, and it experimentally analyzes if the disinfectants and the medical decontamination procedure degrade the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts. Then, it studies acetone surface treatment as a solution to avoid disinfectants infiltration. The absorption tests results indicate the necessity of applying post-processing operations for the reusable 3D-printed medical devices as no manufacturing settings can ensure enough protection against fluid intake. However, some parameter settings were proven to enhance the sealing, in this sense the layer thickness being the most important factor. The experimental outcomes also show a decrease in the mechanical performance of 3D-printed ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) instruments treated by acetone cold vapors and then medical decontaminated (disinfected, cleaned, and sterilized by hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization) in comparison to the control prints. These results should be acknowledged when designing and 3D printing medical instruments.

Effect of Autoclave Pressure and Temperature on Consolidation of Layers and Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured (FDM) Products with PLA

In additive manufacturing technologies, fused deposition modelling (FDM) is continuing its advancement from rapid prototyping to rapid manufacturing. However, effective usage of FDM is not performed due to the poor mechanical properties of the 3D-printed components. This drawback restricts their usage in many applications. Much research, such as reinforcing 3D-printed parts with fibers, changing printing parameters (infill density, infill concentration, extrusion temperature, nozzle diameter, layer thickness, raster angle, etc.) are aimed to increase the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts. This research paper aims to investigate the effect of pressure and temperature on the mechanical properties and consolidation of layers of 3D-printed PLA (Polylactic Acid). Post-treatment was done using a customized autoclave. Autoclave has the capability to maintain 185 °C and 135 bar pressure. Three-dimensional-printed specimens were manufactured using the FDM process with two patterns. Later, the specimens were subjected to various post-treatment processes, then followed with testing and analysis of mechanical properties. Post-treatment process carried out by placing them in an autoclave at certain pressure and temperature conditions. To investigate the repeatability and tolerances, the test series includes a minimum of four to six test specimens. The results indicate that the concentric pattern yields the most desirable tensile, impact, and flexural strength due to the alignment of deposited rasters and better consolidation of layers with the loading direction. The pressure and temperature of the autoclave has a positive effect on the PLA samples, which helped them to reorganize the structure, hence strength properties were enhanced. The test results also compared with injection-molded samples for better understating.

On the Post-Processing of 3D-Printed ABS Parts.

Application of Additive Manufacturing (AM) has significantly increased in the past few years. AM also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing has been currently used in fabrication of prototypes and end-use products. Considering the new applications of additively manufactured components, it is necessary to study structural details of these parts. In the current study, influence of a post-processing on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts has been investigated. To this aim, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) material was used to produce test coupons based on the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process. More in deep, a device was designed and fabricated to fix imperfection and provide smooth surfaces on the 3D-printed ABS specimens. Later, original and treated specimens were subjected to a series of tensile loads, three-point bending tests, and water absorption tests. The experimental tests indicated fracture load in untreated dog-bone shaped specimen was 2026.1 N which was decreased to 1951.7 N after surface treatment. Moreover, the performed surface treatment was lead and decrease in tensile strength from 29.37 MPa to 26.25 MPa. Comparison of the results confirmed effects of the surface modification on the fracture toughness of the examined semi-circular bending components. Moreover, a 3D laser microscope was used for visual investigation of the specimens. The documented results are beneficial for next designs and optimization of finishing processes.

Mechanical Properties of FDM Printed PLA Parts before and after Thermal Treatment.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is one of the most often-used technologies in additive manufacturing. Several materials are used with this technology, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which is most commonly applied. The mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts depend on the process parameters. This is why, in this study, three-point bending tests were carried out to characterize the influence of build orientation, layer thickness, printing temperature and printing speed on the mechanical properties of PLA samples. Not only the process parameters may affect the mechanical properties, but heat after-treatment also has an influence on them. For this reason, additional samples were printed with optimal process parameters and characterized after pure heat treatment as well as after deformation at a temperature above the glass transition temperature, cooling with applied deformation, and subsequent recovery under heat treatment. These findings are planned to be used in a future study on finger orthoses that could either be printed according to shape or in a flat shape and afterwards heated and bent around the finger.

3D printing of biofiber-reinforced composites and their mechanical properties: a review

PurposeThis paper aims to summarize the up-to-date research performed on combinations of various biofibers and resin systems used in different three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies, including powder-based, material extrusion, solid-sheet and liquid-based systems. Detailed information about each process, including materials used and process design, are described, with the resultant products’ mechanical properties compared with those of 3D-printed parts produced from pure resin or different material combinations. In most processes introduced in this paper, biofibers are beneficial in improving the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts and the biodegradability of the parts made using these green materials is also greatly improved. However, research on 3D printing of biofiber-reinforced composites is still far from complete, and there are still many further studies and research areas that could be explored in the future.Design/methodology/approachThe paper starts with an overview of the current scenario of the composite manufacturing industry and then the problems of advanced composite materials are pointed out, followed by an introduction of biocomposites. The main body of the paper covers literature reviews of recently emerged 3D printing technologies that were applied to biofiber-reinforced composite materials. This part is classified into subsections based on the form of the starting materials used in the 3D printing process. A comprehensive conclusion is drawn at the end of the paper summarizing the findings by the authors.FindingsMost of the biofiber-reinforced 3D-printed products exhibited improved mechanical properties than products printed using pure resin, indicating that biofibers are good replacements for synthetic ones. However, synthetic fibers are far from being completely replaced by biofibers due to several of their disadvantages including higher moisture absorbance, lower thermal stability and mechanical properties. Many studies are being performed to solve these problems, yet there are still some 3D printing technologies in which research concerning biofiber-reinforced composite parts is quite limited. This paper unveils potential research directions that would further develop 3D printing in a sustainable manner.Originality/valueThis paper is a summary of attempts to use biofibers as reinforcements together with different resin systems as the starting material for 3D printing processes, and most of the currently available 3D printing techniques are included herein. All of these attempts are solutions to some principal problems with current 3D printing processes such as the limit in the variety of materials and the poor mechanical performance of 3D printed parts. Various types of biofibers are involved in these studies. This paper unveils potential research directions that would further widen the use of biofibers in 3D printing in a sustainable manner.

The Average Grain Size and Grain Aspect Ratio in Metal Laser Powder Bed Fusion: Modeling and Experiment

The additive manufacturing (AM) process induces high uncertainty in the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts, which represents one of the main barriers for a wider AM processes adoption. To address this problem, a new time-efficient microstructure prediction algorithm was proposed in this study for the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process. Based on a combination of the melt pool modeling and the design of experiment approaches, this algorithm was used to predict the microstructure (grain size/aspect ratio) of materials processed by an EOS M280 LPBF system, including Iron and IN625 alloys. This approach was successfully validated using experimental and literature data, thus demonstrating its potential efficiency for the optimization of different LPBF powders and systems.

Experimental analysis of polymers specimens produce from 3DPrototype Printing- an investigation

3D printing, all the more officially known as Additive Manufacturing (AM), is as of now being embraced for fast prototyping and soon quick assembling. This survey gives a concise talk about AM and furthermore the most utilized AM innovations for polymers. The normally utilized ASTM and ISO mechanical test benchmarks which have been utilized by different research gatherings to test the quality of the 3D-printed parts have likewise been accounted for. Likewise an outline of a comprehensive measure of writing with respect to the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts is incorporated. In particular, properties under various stack types, for example, tractable, bowing, compressive, weakness, effect and others. Properties at low temperatures have additionally been examined. Impacts of fillers just as post-handling on the mechanical properties have been talked about. In conclusion, a few significant inquiries to consider in the institutionalization of mechanical test techniques have been talked about the testing’s are surface finish and compression test.

Viscoelastic properties of fused filament fabrication parts

Parts made by fused filament fabrication differ in their mechanical properties from the parent material. To investigate the effect of the manufacturing process on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts, a series of experiments including Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) and ultrasonic wave propagation were conducted. For this purpose, printed parts were made from custom ABS filament and were printed using a rectangular bead shape to minimize porosity. The main properties investigated included the elastic, loss and storage moduli, and the material loss tangent (tan δ). Results indicate that the elastic modulus of the printed material was somewhat lower than that of the parent material, about 2 GPa for frequencies 0.1 Hz–100 Hz. Furthermore, tan δ was largest for the parent material at about 0.03 compared with 0.01–0.02 for the printed material. Ultrasonic longitudinal wave measurements at 1 MHz on printed specimens with bead angles of 0°, 45° and 90°, revealed minimal anisotropy and, consistent with DMA results, tan δ was also largest for the parent material.

Improved mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts by fused deposition modeling processed under the exclusion of oxygen

3D printing via fused deposition modeling (FDM) has developed to the probably most common rapid prototyping technology due to its easy of use and broad range of available materials. Nowadays, FDM printed parts are on the way to be used in various applications ranging from all-day use to more technical purposes. As a matter of fact, the mechanical strength is one of the main parameters to be optimized by the choice of the material and the 3D-printing settings, such as layer height, nozzle temperature and printing speed. Here, we report on the improvement of the mechanical properties of printed parts by use of an inert gas atmosphere during the print. A typical FDM printer has been inserted into the nitrogen atmosphere of a glove box and used without modifications to print parts made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polyamide as printing materials with a high mechanical load tolerance. Probably partly due to the prevention of oxidation processes, a significant increase in elongation at break and tensile strength was observed. This may be explained by a reduced degradation of the polymer surface at the comparatively high printing temperature. 3D printing under the exclusion of oxygen may be realized comparatively easy by flooding the printing chamber with nitrogen in future applications for the production of FDM-printed parts with improved mechanical properties.