Experimental Determination of Critical Orientation of ABS Parts Manufactured Using Fused Deposition Modelling Technology

The paper presents results of experiments aimed at determination of range of critical orientation for parts manufactured additively using the Fused Deposition Modelling method, out of ABS material. Numerous previous observations of plastic parts manufactured additively using the FDM process allowed concluding, that change of values of the manufacturing orientation (i.e. direction of layer slicing plane) has large influence on the macrostructure of obtained parts, thus affecting their strength and behaviour under load – the material behaves either as a thermoplastic with a yield point or as a brittle material with no yield point. The paper presents methodology and results of experiments aimed at determination of a certain value or value range, at which transition between the two behaviours occurs. The experiments consisted of tensile tests performed on samples manufactured additively in a pre-selected range of orientations. The obtained results – a value range valid for the selected type of load and sample shape – will be useful in future to help select an optimal orientation of part for a defined task.