Effect of printing process parameters on the shape transformation capability of 3D printed structures

Pivar, Matej (author), Gregor-Svetec, Diana (author), Muck, Deja (author)

The aim of our research was to investigate and optimise the main 3D printing process parameters that directly or indirectly affect the shape transformation capability and to determine the optimal transformation conditions to achieve predicted extent, and accurate and reproducible transformations of 3D printed, shape-changing two-material structures based on PLA and TPU. The shape-changing structures were printed using the FDM technology. The influence of each printing parameter that affects the final printability of shape-changing structures is presented and studied. After optimising the 3D printing process parameters, the extent, accuracy and reproducibility of the shape transformation performance for four-layer structures were analysed. The shape transformation was performed in hot water at different activation temperatures. Through a careful selection of 3D printing process parameters and transformation conditions, the predicted extent, accuracy and good reproducibility of shape transformation for 3D printed structures were achieved. The accurate deposition of filaments in the layers was achieved by adjusting the printing speed, flow rate and cooling conditions of extruded filaments. The shape transformation capability of 3D printed structures with a defined shape and defined active segment dimensions was influenced by the relaxation of compressive and tensile residual stresses in deposited filaments in the printed layers of the active material and different activation temperatures of the transformation.

• Language: English
• Keywords: additive manufacturing, 4D printing, PLA, TPU, printability, shape transformation
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: NTF - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 22 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 14, iss. 1, art. 117
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-136774
• UDC: 655.1
• ISSN on article: 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym14010117
• COBISS.SI-ID: 92056835
• Publication date in RUL: 20.05.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Polymers
• Shortened title: Polymers
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-4360
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517951257

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.01.2022

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: dodajalno izdelovanje, 4D tiskanje, PLA, TPU, tiskovna prehodnost, preoblikovanje

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P2-0213
• Name: Tekstilije in ekologija

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: I0-0026
• Name: Raziskovalni infrastrukturni center UL NTF