Influence of 3D Printing Conditions on Some Physical–Mechanical and Technological Properties of PCL Wood-Based Polymer Parts Manufactured by FDM

Abstract

The paper investigates the influence of some 3D printing conditions on some physical–mechanical and technological properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) wood-based biopolymer parts manufactured by FDM. Parts with 100% infill and the geometry according to ISO 527 Type 1B were printed on a semiprofessional desktop FDM printer. A full factorial design with three independent variables at three levels was considered. Some physical–mechanical properties (weight error, fracture temperature, ultimate tensile strength) and technological properties (top and lateral surface roughness, cutting machinability) were experimentally assessed. For the surface texture analysis, a white light interferometer was used. Regression equations for some of the investigated parameters were obtained and analysed. Higher printing speeds than those usually reported in the existing literature dealing with wood-based polymers’ 3D printing had been tested. Overall, the highest level chosen for the printing speed positively influenced the surface roughness and the ultimate tensile strength of the 3D-printed parts. The cutting machinability of the printed parts was investigated by means of cutting force criteria. The results showed that the PCL wood-based polymer analysed in this study had lower machinability than natural wood.