Printing Parameter Optimization of Additive Manufactured PLA Using Taguchi Design of Experiment.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Three-dimensional printing (3DP), or additive layer manufacturing (ALM), constructs objects layer by layer.
• Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a popular ALM technique due to its affordability and simplicity.
• Challenges in FDM include poor layer adhesion, delamination, and suboptimal product quality, hindering industrial adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize FDM process and post-process parameters for Polylactic acid (PLA).
• To enhance the tensile strength of 3D printed PLA samples.
• To address limitations in FDM for industrial applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Taguchi L18 orthogonal array for experimental design.
• Investigated process parameters: infill density, infill pattern, layer height, and print temperature.
• Included post-process parameter: annealing temperature.

Main Results:

• The gyroid infill pattern combined with a 90°C annealing cycle yielded the maximum ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 37.15 MPa.
• A regression model accurately predicted UTS, achieving over 96% accuracy for the studied variables.
• Identified optimal parameter combinations for maximizing PLA tensile strength in FDM.

Conclusions:

• Optimized FDM parameters and annealing significantly improve PLA tensile strength.
• The gyroid infill pattern and 90°C annealing are key factors for enhanced mechanical properties.
• The developed regression model provides a reliable tool for predicting UTS in FDM of PLA.