Comparative Analysis of Ecodesign in the Design and Manufacturing Methods for Mechanical Parts Made of Nylon PA6

Abstract

The life cycle analysis (LCA) is the tool that allows comparing products, processes or services in terms of the eco-design, that is, according to the environmental impact that said product, process or service has throughout all the phases of its life, both during its lifetime and after. In this study, three manufacturing techniques of mechanical parts in use in industry, such as machining, injection and additive manufacturing, are compared. This is made through the testing of a specific series of common mechanical pieces designed for that purpose, by studying through the tools of eco-design the different impact of each technique, and arriving at its quantification in terms of carbon footprint. From this obtained result, hypotheses are established about the modifications to the design that benefits each one of the techniques the most and allows a redesign of the most sustainable product.