Optimal assembling of 3D printed features by modulation of interfacial behaviour

Abstract

Purpose

Assembling items to achieve bigger parts seems to be the solution to counterbalance the dimension limits of 3D printing. This work aims to propose an approach to achieve optimal assembling.

Design/methodology/approach

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer samples were printed using fused deposition modelling (FDM). These samples were assembled and the precise contribution of interfacial shearing and tension was measured using simple tensile experiments.

Findings

The results achieved show the correlation between the printing orientation and the assembling angle. It could be proved that rupture by an interfacial decohesion mechanism of glued parts can be avoided by simple adaptation of the assembling junction.

Practical implications

Design of large parts using FDM is no more a limitation if assembling configurations are adapted based on the knowledge gained about the interfacial phenomena occurring at the junction position.

Originality/value

The unbalanced contribution of shearing and tension at the interface defines new assembling profiles that exclude flat junctions.

Citation

Favero, J., Belhabib, S., Guessasma, S. and Nouri, H. (2019), "Optimal assembling of 3D printed features by modulation of interfacial behaviour", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 13-21. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-11-2016-0178