Investigation on Composite Sandwich PLA printed parts and Control
Parameter optimization
Abstract
Although additive manufacturing is widely used in all industries, its
applications are limited due to poor mechanical properties. Current
research focuses on improving the strength of 3D printed composites by
changing control parameters (raster angle, layer thickness, and shell
count), and developing the new composite and sandwich composite through
the Fusion Deposition Modelling (FDM) printing process. The parameters
influencing the tensile strength of the printed part, such as raster
angle, layer thickness, and the number of shells, are considered at
three levels and discussed in the research. According to the
investigation’s findings, the tensile strength can be significantly (up
to 12.7%) increased by adjusting the control parameters (in order of
the number of shells, layer thickness, and fill orientation) and
significantly improved by using the sandwich construction. When printing
with different controllable parameters, it has been discovered that the
fewer the outer shells give, the greater the tensile strength.
Fractography analysis was performed to identify the fracture type, and
scanning electron microscopic analysis was performed to identify the
layer’s inner failure analysis. Finally, it was discovered that there
was a close relationship between the number of outer shells and the
thickness of the layers. The excellent tensile strength improvement in
PLA-composite sandwiches was also discovered. Overall, the PLA/Ceramic
sandwich 3D printed parts showed the maximum tensile strength over the
PLA, composites, and other sandwiches and tested for 3D printed hangers.