Abstract
The use of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) in the manufacturing of both prototypes and consumer-grade products is growing rapidly. With the increasing need for production of load-bearing 3D printed components, methods of increasing strength while minimizing material usage are explored. With the anisotropic nature of 3D printing, each change in printing orientation of the component on the print bed results in different mechanical properties, as the infill orientation shifts with respect to the axis of loading. To compare the variation in mechanical properties with respect to the printing orientation, or the XZ plane, 100% infill CarbonX ezPC+CF specimens with infill orientations of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°, corresponding to the printing orientations of -45°,-15 °, 0°, +15°, and +45°, underwent tensile tests in accordance with the ASTM D638-22 standard. The breaking loads and displacements at each orientation were compared against the rest, as well as against the theoretical breaking load. Comparison of the data revealed that variation of the printing orientation, and therefore of the infill orientation, does not affect the strength of the material when printed at an infill density of 100%. Therefore, highlighting the importance of isotropy over the alignment of the infill layers along the axis of loading.