Animesh Basak, A. Lee, Alokesh Pramanik, Ken Neubauer, Chander Prakash and S. Shankar
Regardless of the materials used, additive manufacturing (AM) is one of the most popular emerging fabrication processes used for creating complex and intricate structural…
Abstract
Purpose
Regardless of the materials used, additive manufacturing (AM) is one of the most popular emerging fabrication processes used for creating complex and intricate structural components. This study aims to investigate the effects of process parameters – namely, nozzle diameter, layer thickness and infill density on microstructure as well as the mechanical properties of 17–4 PH stainless steel specimens fabricated via material extrusion AM.
Design/methodology/approach
The experimental approach investigates the effects of printing parameters, including nozzle diameter, layer thickness and infill density, on surface roughness, physical and mechanical properties of the printed specimens. The tests were triplicated to ensure reproducibility of the experimental results.
Findings
The highest ultimate tensile strength, 795.26 MPa, was obtained on specimen that was fabricated with a 0.4 mm nozzle diameter, 0.14 mm layer thickness and 30% infill density. Furthermore, a 0.4 mm nozzle diameter also provided slightly better ductility. This came at the expense of surface finishing, as a 0.25 mm nozzle diameter exhibited better surface finishing over a 0.4 mm nozzle diameter. Infill density was shown to slightly influence the tensile properties, whereas layer thickness showed a significant effect on surface roughness. By contrast, hardness and ductility were independent of nozzle diameter, layer thickness and infill density.
Originality/value
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis relating to various input printing parameters on microstructural, physical and mechanical properties of additively manufactured 17–4 PH stainless steel to improve the printability and processability via AM.
Details
Keywords
Wendy Triadji Nugroho, Yu Dong and Alokesh Pramanik
This paper aims to investigate the dimensional accuracy consisting of thickness, grip section width, full length, circularity, cylindricity and surface finish of printed…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the dimensional accuracy consisting of thickness, grip section width, full length, circularity, cylindricity and surface finish of printed polyurethane dog-bone samples based on American Society for Testing and Materials D638 type V standard, which were optimally printed by fused deposition modelling (FDM).
Design/methodology/approach
The experimental approach focuses on determining main effects of printing parameters, including nozzle temperature, infill percentage, print speed and layer height on dimensional error and surface finish of the printed samples, followed by the confirmation tests to warrant the reproducibility of experimental results.
Findings
This study shows that layer height has the most significant impact on dimensional accuracy and surface finish of printed samples compared to other printing parameters, whereas infill density has no significant effect on all sample dimensions.
Originality/value
This paper presents a comprehensive study relating to various dimensional accuracies in terms of full length, grip section width, thickness, circularity, cylindricity and surface finish of dog-bone samples printed by FDM to improve the printability and processibility via additive manufacturing.