Effect of an Adaptive-Density Filling Structure on the Mechanical Properties of FDM Parts with a Variable Cross-Section

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique is one of the most popular additive manufacturing techniques. Infill density is a critical factor influencing the mechanical properties of 3D-printed components using the FDM technique. For irregular components with variable cross-sections, to increase their...

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Main Authors: Jian Liu, Zhou Su, Chenyue Wang, Zhuofei Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/24/8746
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author Jian Liu
Zhou Su
Chenyue Wang
Zhuofei Xu
author_facet Jian Liu
Zhou Su
Chenyue Wang
Zhuofei Xu
author_sort Jian Liu
collection DOAJ
description Fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique is one of the most popular additive manufacturing techniques. Infill density is a critical factor influencing the mechanical properties of 3D-printed components using the FDM technique. For irregular components with variable cross-sections, to increase their overall mechanical properties while maintaining a lightweight, it is necessary to enhance the local infill density of the thin part while decreasing the infill density of the thick part. However, most current slicing software can only generate a uniform infill throughout one model to be printed and cannot adaptively create a filling structure with a varying infill density according to the dimensional variation of the cross-section. In the present study, to improve the mechanical properties of irregular components with variable cross-sections, an adaptive-density filling structure was proposed, in which Hilbert curve with the same order was used to fill each slice, i.e., the level of the Hilbert curves in each slice is the same, but the side length of the Hilbert curve decreases with the decreasing size of each slice; hence, the infill density of the smaller cross-section is greater than that of the larger cross-section. The ultimate bearing capacity of printed specimens with the adaptive-density filling structure was evaluated by quasi-static compression, three-point bending, and dynamic compression tests, and the printed specimens with uniform filling structure and the same overall infill density were tested for comparison. The results show that the maximum flexural load, the ultimate compression load, and the maximum impact resistance of the printed specimens with the adaptive-density filling structure were increased by 140%, 47%, and 82%, respectively, compared with their counterparts using the uniform filling structure.
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spelling doaj.art-723c191d047548009c22305ea685f1432023-11-24T16:20:55ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442022-12-011524874610.3390/ma15248746Effect of an Adaptive-Density Filling Structure on the Mechanical Properties of FDM Parts with a Variable Cross-SectionJian Liu0Zhou Su1Chenyue Wang2Zhuofei Xu3Faculty of Printing, Packaging Engineering and Digital Media Technology, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710054, ChinaFaculty of Printing, Packaging Engineering and Digital Media Technology, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710054, ChinaZhongchuang Xinhang Technology Co., Ltd., Changzhou 213200, ChinaFaculty of Printing, Packaging Engineering and Digital Media Technology, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710054, ChinaFused deposition modeling (FDM) technique is one of the most popular additive manufacturing techniques. Infill density is a critical factor influencing the mechanical properties of 3D-printed components using the FDM technique. For irregular components with variable cross-sections, to increase their overall mechanical properties while maintaining a lightweight, it is necessary to enhance the local infill density of the thin part while decreasing the infill density of the thick part. However, most current slicing software can only generate a uniform infill throughout one model to be printed and cannot adaptively create a filling structure with a varying infill density according to the dimensional variation of the cross-section. In the present study, to improve the mechanical properties of irregular components with variable cross-sections, an adaptive-density filling structure was proposed, in which Hilbert curve with the same order was used to fill each slice, i.e., the level of the Hilbert curves in each slice is the same, but the side length of the Hilbert curve decreases with the decreasing size of each slice; hence, the infill density of the smaller cross-section is greater than that of the larger cross-section. The ultimate bearing capacity of printed specimens with the adaptive-density filling structure was evaluated by quasi-static compression, three-point bending, and dynamic compression tests, and the printed specimens with uniform filling structure and the same overall infill density were tested for comparison. The results show that the maximum flexural load, the ultimate compression load, and the maximum impact resistance of the printed specimens with the adaptive-density filling structure were increased by 140%, 47%, and 82%, respectively, compared with their counterparts using the uniform filling structure.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/24/8746fused deposition modelingadaptive-density filling structuremechanical properties
spellingShingle Jian Liu
Zhou Su
Chenyue Wang
Zhuofei Xu
Effect of an Adaptive-Density Filling Structure on the Mechanical Properties of FDM Parts with a Variable Cross-Section
Materials
fused deposition modeling
adaptive-density filling structure
mechanical properties
title Effect of an Adaptive-Density Filling Structure on the Mechanical Properties of FDM Parts with a Variable Cross-Section
title_full Effect of an Adaptive-Density Filling Structure on the Mechanical Properties of FDM Parts with a Variable Cross-Section
title_fullStr Effect of an Adaptive-Density Filling Structure on the Mechanical Properties of FDM Parts with a Variable Cross-Section
title_full_unstemmed Effect of an Adaptive-Density Filling Structure on the Mechanical Properties of FDM Parts with a Variable Cross-Section
title_short Effect of an Adaptive-Density Filling Structure on the Mechanical Properties of FDM Parts with a Variable Cross-Section
title_sort effect of an adaptive density filling structure on the mechanical properties of fdm parts with a variable cross section
topic fused deposition modeling
adaptive-density filling structure
mechanical properties
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/24/8746
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