Mechanical research to optimize parameter selection for PPS material processed by FDM
Jone Retolaza, Koldo Gondra, Rubén Ansola, Alexandra Allue
Abstract
Fused Material Deposition (FDM) is an additive manufacturing process where a filament of fused material is deposited layer by layer. This cost-effective process has been used for prototype parts. The maker movement has significantly evolved the process and has thus recently started to be used to obtain functional parts. This research is a first step in the study of printing strategies to produce a design guide for Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) and to select the corresponding parameters for the specifications of each part. This paper seeks to explore the effect that printing parameters – infill percentage, printing direction and pattern type – have on the properties on a PPS part, including tensile strength and printing time. ANOVA was used to analyze the experimental results and the parameters for optimal responses were identified, Designers are thus able to select those parameters that match the part specifications. The mechanical and morphological characteristics of the rectilinear and octagonal patterns have been studied. The influence of each parameter has been evaluated according to UNE-EN-ISO 527-2/1B/1 standard for mechanical properties and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for morphological characteristics.