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High Temperature Thermoplastic Additive Manufacturing Using Low-Cost, Open-Source HardwareAdditive manufacturing (or 3D printing) via Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), also known as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), is a process where material is placed in specific locations layer-by-layer to create a complete part. Printers designed for FFF build parts by extruding a thermoplastic filament from a nozzle in a predetermined path. Originally developed for commercial printers, 3D printing via FFF has become accessible to a much larger community of users since the introduction of Reprap printers. These low-cost, desktop machines are typically used to print prototype parts or novelty items. As the adoption of desktop sized 3D printers broadens, there is increased demand for these machines to produce functional parts that can withstand harsher conditions such as high temperature and mechanical loads. Materials meeting these requirements tend to possess better mechanical properties and higher glass transition temperatures (Tg), thus requiring printers with high temperature printing capability. This report outlines the problems and solutions, and includes a detailed description of the machine design, printing parameters, and processes specific to high temperature thermoplastic 3D printing.
Document ID
20170000214
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Gardner, John M.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Stelter, Christopher J.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Yashin, Edward A.
(Michigan Univ. Dearborn, MI, United States)
Siochi, Emilie J.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
January 4, 2017
Publication Date
October 1, 2016
Subject Category
Mechanical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2016-219344
L-20761
NF1676L-25721
Report Number: NASA/TM-2016-219344
Report Number: L-20761
Report Number: NF1676L-25721
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 432938.09.01.07.98.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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