Effect of printing parameters on the hardness of 3D printed poly-lactic acid parts using DOE approach

Abstract

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is an extensively used method for additive manufacturing of thermoplastic materials. It is growing in a variety of engineering applications because of its ability to produce complicated structural designs with low manufacturing time. However, the mechanical characteristics of the 3D printed components are extremely dependent on the proper selection of the printing conditions. In this present work, the impact of three foremost printing parameters, including fill density, extrusion temperature, and printing speed, is examined on the hardness of poly-lactic acid (PLA) parts. Taguchi design of experiment (DOE) methodology is used to minimize the total experimental runs and evaluate the optimal printing parameters for the maximum hardness of the printed part. Analysis of S/N ratios is utilized for establishing the optimal printing parameters, and the corresponding percentage contribution of control factors is measured using ANOVA. The study results have shown that extrusion temperature profoundly influences the hardness of the 3D printed PLA specimens, while printing speeds have a much smaller impact on it.