Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Publication
    Effect of Build Parameters on Process Energy Consumption and Material Usage in Fused Deposition Modelling Method
    (Institute of Physics, 2022-01-01)
    Omar N.W.Y.
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    Fused deposition modelling (FDM) process is one of popular 3D printing technologies, especially on printing polymer materials for a rapid prototyping. The process is well known for its resource saving, with no tooling cost required and minimum energy demand. However, the challenge is that the process performances are highly influenced by selection of parameters. From literature, consideration on material usage and process energy demand in FDM processes is still limited. This study used an L9 Taguchi orthogonal array design in investigating effect of build orientation, printing speed and layer thickness on process energy consumption and total material usage in FDM processes. The p-values from ANOVA analysis revealed that only layer thickness and build orientation had significant effect on the outputs. In minimising material usage, the strategy is to select the correct build orientation to avoid need of support structure. For reducing energy demand, optimum layer thickness needs to be determined by considering other factors such as mechanical properties and surface roughness. This study provides preliminary findings which will benefit FDM users in using resources efficiently. Further studies are required to complement the findings from the aspects of mechanical and physical properties of the printed products.
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  • Publication
    Mechanical and physical properties of recycled-carbon-fiber-reinforced polylactide fused deposition modelling filament
    Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic materials have attracted several applications, including the fused deposition modelling (FDM) process. As a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative to its virgin counterpart, the use of milled recycled carbon fiber (rCF) has received much attention. The quality of the feed filament is important to avoid filament breakage and clogged nozzles during the FDM printing process. However, information about the effect of material parameters on the mechanical and physical properties of short rCF-reinforced FDM filament is still limited. This paper presents the effect of fiber loading (10 wt%, 20 wt%, and 30 wt%) and fiber size (63 µm, 75 µm, and 150 µm) on the filament’s tensile properties, surface roughness, microstructure, porosity level, density, and water absorptivity. The results show that the addition of 63 µm fibers at 10 wt% loading can enhance filament tensile properties with minimal surface roughness and porosity level. The addition of rCF increased the density and reduced the material’s water intake. This study also indicates a clear trade-off between the optimized properties. Hence, it is recommended that the optimization of rCF should consider the final application of the product. The findings of this study provide a new manufacturing strategy in utilizing milled rCF in potential 3D printing-based applications.
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