EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF LAYER THICKNESS ON THE TENSILE PROPERTIES OF ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED POLYLACTIC ACID (PLA) PLASTIC
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of layer thickness on the tensile strength of Polylactic Acid (PLA) parts produced using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), a widely used additive manufacturing process. Standard ASTM D638 Type I tensile specimens were modelled using Autodesk Fusion 360 and printed at three different layer thicknesses: 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2.0 mm, while keeping other printing parameters constant. Tensile testing was conducted using an Avery-Denison Universal Testing Machine to determine the maximum load at failure for each specimen. The results showed that tensile strength decreased as layer thickness increased, with average tensile strength values of 14.11 MPa, 7.05 MPa, and 4.49 MPa for 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2.0 mm respectively. This trend aligns with findings from previous studies, demonstrating that thinner layers enhance interlayer bonding and reduce internal defects, leading to improved mechanical performance. The study provides valuable insights that support the optimization of print parameters for engineering applications where mechanical integrity is essential.
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