Fatigue performance of fused filament fabrication PLA specimens

This paper aims to analyze the fatigue response of PLA parts manufactured through fused filament fabrication (FFF). The influence of four factors (layer height, fill density, nozzle diameter and velocity) on the fatigue performance of cylindrical specimens is studied through an L27 Taguchi experimen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials & design 2018-02, Vol.140, p.278-285
Main Authors: Gómez Gras, Giovanni, Jerez Mesa, Ramón, Travieso Rodriguez, Jose Antonio, Llumà Fuentes, Jordi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3D printing
Additive manufacturing
endurance limit
Enginyeria mecànica
Fatigue
Fused filament fabrication
Impressió 3D
PLA
Three-dimensional printing
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
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Summary:This paper aims to analyze the fatigue response of PLA parts manufactured through fused filament fabrication (FFF). The influence of four factors (layer height, fill density, nozzle diameter and velocity) on the fatigue performance of cylindrical specimens is studied through an L27 Taguchi experimental design. This design is run for two different infills: linear and honeycomb. Specimens have been tested on a rotating fatigue bending machine. The optimal set of parameters and levels resulting in the highest number of cycles to failure have been determined, and implemented to manufacture a second set of specimens, which have been tested at different stress levels to represent the Wöhler curve. Fill density proves to be the most influential parameter on fatigue life, followed by layer height. The tests undertaken to represent the Wöhler curve revealed that 35.8MPa can be considered as a lower threshold of the endurance limit for this kind of specimens. This value can be useful to use these devices to manufacture human implants, as PLA is a biocompatible material. The main novelty of this paper is that no previous fatigue life assessment of PLA parts manufactured through FFF has been developed. [Display omitted] •Taguchi experimental design has been applied to analyze fatigue of PLA parts.•The optimal set of parameters resulting in the highest number of cycles to failure was found.•Fill density is the most influential parameter on fatigue life, followed by layer height.•The Wöhler curve for the optimal set of parameters have been represented.•Crack nucleation and propagation have been observed through optical microscopy.
ISSN:0264-1275
1873-4197
DOI:10.1016/j.matdes.2017.11.072