Fabrication of FDM 3D objects with ABS and PLA and determination of their mechanical properties

Abstract

The Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technique is a well known production method within the field of 3D-printing. In the last few years, a large number of manufacturers entered the low-cost market. The public interest in this sector mainly focuses on the possibility just to "do it yourself". But from the mechanical engineering point of view, more detailed information about the quality of the printed parts is needed. This paper examines the material properties of objects that are manufactured using FDM technology, with the impact of the following input factors being discussed: The material used (ABS or PLA), the filling method of the parts (completely filled with line pattern or partially filled with honeycomb pattern) and the 3D-printer used (Felix 1.0e, CB-printer or uPrint Plus). The results of our tensile tests show that the process of FDM manufacturing can provide good and reproducible results regarding the mechanical strength of the printed parts. This applies both to the inexpensive printers Felix 1.0e and CB-printer as well as to the higher-priced uPrint Plus. In the comparison of materials, the PLA parts can reach a higher mechanical strength than those printed with ABS.