Effect of 3D Printing Parameters on the Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Models

As an emerging technology, three-dimensional (3D) printing is gaining publicity among companies, manufacturers, and individuals to fabricate prototypes, parts, and samples. 3D printing can be used in various fields such as engineering, healthcare, education, etc. This study investigates the influence of FDM 3D printing parameters such as infill patterns (line, triangle, cubic, and gyroid), infill densities (20%, 60%, and 100%), layer thicknesses (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mm), and temperature according to the minimum and maximum manufacturer recommendations. This study investigated the most common filament used in FDM 3D printing, which is polylactic acid (PLA). Mechanical tests were performed on the 3D printed parts, which are uniaxial tensile test and 3-point bending test according to ASTM D638 Type-I and ISO 178 standards, respectively. Modulus of elasticity (E), fracture point (σ_F), maximum stress (σ_Max), and yield strength (σ_Y) were obtained from the uniaxial tensile test. And for the 3-point bending test, strain at maximum load (ɛ), modulus of elasticity (E_bending), and flexural strength (σ_fMax) were obtained. This study showed that infill density and pattern are dominant factors in mechanical performance, while layer thickness and printing temperature provide fine-tuning effects.