Investigation of the Effects of Printing Angle on Mechanical Properties of PLA Specimen Fabricated with 3D Printer by using Experimental and Finite Elements Method

Fused deposition modeling has become an important technology preferred in industrial and domestic use with the development and diversification of 3D printers. However, the number of parameters that affect the strength of the printed part in 3D printers is quite high. In this study, the effect of printing angle on the mechanical properties of the specimens fabricated with 3D printer was investigated through experimental and finite elements method. PLA filament and different printing angles (0 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees) were used for printing the test specimens. Specimens were accepted as transversely isotropic in the finite elements analysis. The plastic behavior of the material was explained by Hill yield criterion. In the first stage of the study, results of finite elements analysis and experimental study for 0 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 degrees printing angles were compared. Comparison results showed that the acceptance of transversely isotropic material and Hill yield criterion can be used to determine the strength of the printed part. In the last stage of the study, finite elements analysis was repeated for 15 degrees, 30 degrees 60 degrees, 75 degrees printing angles. The finite element analysis and experimental results showed that the mechanical properties and maximum load values of specimens increased significantly with increasing of printing angle.