Surface roughness and compression studies of the additively manufactured TPU components
摘要
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) has been a popular elastomer for almost a decade. With its mechanical and elastic properties, it makes it a viable option for creating lightweight products that require physical properties for flexibility, compression, shock absorption, and aesthetic preservation. TPU is well known for its application within the field of additive manufacturing (AM), specifically in material extrusion (MEX). In this parametric study, analyses of TPU’s surface roughness and compression capabilities were conducted and recorded to determine the ideal 3D-print settings for the additively manufactured products, tailored to its desired usage, using variations in layer height, infill pattern, and infill density. This research provides a number of findings that not only provide an evident insight into decision-making for manufacturing the desired product for compression and aesthetics, but also opens possibilities for finding other settings, such as printing temperature and printing speed, that could affect the mechanical and elastic properties of TPU products in AM.