Standardization of FDM Manufactured Parts for Application in the Transport Sector

Abstract

The new advancements in Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies allow for continuous improvements in the transportation sector. In particular, Fused deposition Modeling (FDM) methods allow for easy generation of prototypes and complex parts, which is highly valuable in the aerospace industry. However, they present a challenge: the difficulty in characterizing the final mechanical properties of the FDM process and the material as a whole. The notable differences resulting from variations in one or more manufacturing parameters make an integrated analysis of the method necessary. This work proposes an initial standardization applicable to manufacturing and characterization procedures of the 'material + FDM process' combination. It takes into account the material characteristics, equipment used, parameter settings, and testing procedures, with reference to ASTM and ISO standards. As a result, concepts and formats for parameter identification and application are unified, which will be highly beneficial for the characterization process.