Some experimental studies of mechanical behavior of FDM Rapid Prototyped parts

Abstract

Rapid Prototyping systems are becoming more flexible and efficient providing new ways of engineering. Earlier use of RP was restricted to prototype fabrication in product development processes. The introduction of new material and systems make possible to use the parts for functional tests or to produce products with low demand. But little information about system parameters or mechanical behavior of prototyped parts is available. The aim of this work is to provide some insights about mechanical properties of FDM parts, helping engineers and designers to use the best of their equipments. To reach it, three types of tests were carried out, tensile strength, infiltration and torque tests. The main purpose of infiltration test is to understand the capillarity behavior presented by parts built with FDM. For torque tests, the anisotropic behavior of prototyped parts is under investigation and some different parameters were evaluated with tensile strength test. Some conclusions drawn from the relation between adjacent filaments and strength; possibility of increase torque resistance by changing road width and layer thickness; how to reinforce the internal body structure using capillarity. The results proved the possibility of using Polycarbonate prototyped parts instead of ABS mould injected parts with similar strength resistance. © 2008 Taylor & Francis Group.