The objective of this study is to investigate the possibility of enhancing mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) samples processed by a rapid manufacturing (RM) technique by increasing PLA crystallinity degree via thermal annealing. The samples are manufactured by fused deposition modeling (FDM) at different temperatures and subsequently evaluated by three‐point bending flexural and tensile tests. The polymer processed at 215 °C is thermally annealed over its glass transition temperature in order to increase the degree of crystallinity to the maximum attainable level as measured by the differential scanning calorimetry and confirmed by X‐ray diffraction. The increase in the degree of crystallinity of FDM‐PLA enhances flexural stress of the samples by 11–17%. The study also demonstrates applicability of radiation sterilization for FDM‐PLA parts. Therefore, thermal annealing might be introduced into a standard RM technology of PLA, particularly for sterilizable customized implants, to efficiently improve their mechanical properties.
Purpose
The paper aims to investigate the problem of heat distribution in FDM 3D printing. The temperature distribution of the material is important because of the occurrence of shrinkage and crystallization phenomena that affect the dimensional accuracy and strength of the material.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a thermoplastic material (polylactide) and a test stand equipped with a 3D printer adapted to perform thermographic observations. The main source of heat in the study was a molten laminate material and a hot-end head.
Findings
When the material is molten at the temperature of 190°C, the temperature of a previous layer increases above the glass transition point (Tg = 64.8°C) and reaches to about 80°C. In addition, at the boundary of the layers, there occurs a permanent bonding of the consecutive layers because of their partial melting. The paper also reports the results of porosity of PLA samples printed at the temperature ranging between 205 and 255°C. The degree of porosity depends on the temperature of the extruded material.
Practical implications
The results may be helpful for designers of various printed parts and construction engineers of printing heads and 3D printer chambers.
Originality/value
Thermograms of material layers with a height of 0.3 mm are obtained using a thermal imaging camera with a lens for macro magnification (43 pixels/mm).
A concept of non-linear electromagnetic system with the rotational magnetic pendulum for energy harvesting from mechanical vibrations was presented. The system was stimulated by vertical excitation coming from a shaker. The main assumption of the system was the montage of additional regulated stationary magnets inside coils creating double potential well, and the system was made with a 3D printing technique in order to avoid a magnetic coupling with the housing. In validation process of the system, modelling of electromagnetic effects in different configurations of magnets positions was performed with the application of a finite element method (FEM) obtaining the value of magnetic force acting on the pendulum. A laboratory measurement circuit was built and an experiment was carried out. The voltage and power outputs were measured for different excitations in range of system operational frequencies found experimentally. The experimental results of the physical system with electrical circuit and numerical estimations of the magnetic field of a stationary magnet’s configuration were used to derive a mathematical model. The equation of motion for the rotational pendulum was used to prove the broadband frequency effect.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.