Author : L.Balamurugan 1
Date of Publication :30th November 2017
Abstract: Additive Manufacturing is a professional production technique which builds up complex shaped parts layer by layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies by using the .stl file as input. The mechanical strength of polymer-based additive manufacturing components is not sufficient to meet the demands of functional end tooling operations. Surface roughness also should be improved for its effective implementation in various applications. Many research methodologies were proposed to improve the mechanical strength and surface properties of additive manufacturing components but post-processing characterization is a kind of method which is highly concentrated in recent years by various organizations. A pilot study was conducted among the available techniques like D.C sputtering, electroforming and electroplating by using specimens which were fabricated in different orientations and it was found that the electroplating process provided good adherence of coating material over substrate when comparing to other two processes. In this study fused deposition modelling technique was used to fabricate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene parts in 0,30,45,60 and 90-degree orientations and these parts were electroplated with copper by using sulphuric acid as electrolyte. The tensile and flexural tests were carried out over electroplated and non-electroplated specimens to analyze the effect of different orientations on the anisotropic behaviour of parts. Surface roughness test was also carried out over electroplated and non-electroplated specimens by using portable surface roughness tester to analyze the effect of different orientation over surface roughness properties. The results indicated that there is a significant amount of improvement in surface roughness properties and mechanical properties of electroplated specimens when comparing to non-electroplated specimens that show a possibility for utilizing this methodology in end tooling applications.
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