A VISUAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PRINTING TEMPERATURE AND THE PRESENCE OF KENAF FIBERS IN FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING 3D PRINTING

Abstract

The printing temperature is crucial for producing high-quality parts in fused deposition modeling 3D printing. Filament properties are influenced by material composition, with fibers increasing polymer viscosity and altering raw polymer properties. This paper investigates the effect of printing temperature on kenaf fiber-reinforced ABS filament. The dimensional accuracy of printed parts was measured using a coordinate measurement machine in three directions, with eight geometries analyzed for both 100% ABS and 7.5% kenaf fiber reinforced composite kids’ building blocks. Results indicated that a higher nozzle temperature (245 ^oC) produced poor quality, while a slightly lower temperature (215 ^oC) yielded better results. Lower platform temperature (95 ^oC) caused warping, while higher platform temperature (105 ^oC) resulted in elephant foot at the edges of the printed block. An optimal platform temperature of 100 ^oC, reaching the composite’s glass transition temperature, solidified the filament with good quality. In summary, proper characterization of filament material properties is essential to set the appropriate printing temperature.