An investigation of PLA/W parts quality fabricated by FFF
Dimitrios Chaidas, John D. Kechagias
Abstract
Wood-flour PLA (PLA/W) composite material is a recyclable new material that is suitable for wood-looking components. This organic material can be found in different wood-flour (WF) compositions recently and is appropriate for the FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) process. The current research investigates the impact of two key parameters, the nozzle temperature (NT, oC) and the layer thickness (LT, mm) onto surface quality (roughness average Ra and maximum profile height Rt; μm) and dimensional accuracy (linear external and wall thickness in X and Y direction, mm). A commercially available wood flour of pine with additives and pure PLA used for the experimental work. The results are analyzed using statistical descriptive tools (ANOM, ANOVA and interaction plots) and regression analysis for modeling the results. It has been found that lower values of LT and NT optimize both the surface quality and the dimensional accuracy. The LT is the dominant parameter for the surface quality, while both the LT and the NT are equally important for dimensional accuracy.