3D Printing Material Testing and Applications in Biomaterial Modeling for Pediatric Medical Trainers

Abstract

Additive manufacturing technologies have become increasingly prevalent in recent years and, with their abundance, have opened many doors in the field of manufacturing and design. The field of medicine has always been in high demand for new manufacturing techniques to create medical prostheses, devices, and trainers. With this increased need, 3D printing has become the obvious solution, and with it, a major problem has arisen. The lack of material property data on 3D printing filament post extrusion leaves designers and engineers having to perform extraneous tests to create accurate models. This paper summarizes an analyses of a common 3D printing filament known as Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). The analysis included tensile testing in accordance with ASTM D638-14 and preliminary FEA based on the material properties found. It was found that TPU is a material that behaves in a similar manner to an elastomer with a low ultimate stress (50% infill yields 23.92 MPa +1.38 −1.12) and relatively low moduli of elasticity (50% infill sample 23.13 MPa +0.91 −0.87). TPU’s material characteristics change in respect to its infill percentage. A preliminary FEA analysis was also performed with results that agree with the material testing. Overall, the results from the physical testing and the FEA analysis were in agreement and allows for the creation of a foundation to extend the FEA validation with complex geometric models modeled after organic biomedical components.