3D printing parts: Mechanical characterization, applications, challenges, and techniques

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM), often known as 3D printing, has shown rapid growth over the last two decades and is being used in numerous applications. AM is one of the most continuously emerging manufacturing methods for creating prototypes and end users' products by layer-by-layer deposition. The mechanical and physical properties of a product formed using AM might be different from non-conventional processes. The mechanical performance of 3D-printed objects is influenced by materials, layer thickness, energy, scan speed, depositing layout, post-processing, and other process parameters. AM provides numerous advantages, including design flexibility, customization, and creating highly complicated structures. In addition, it also has limitations such as higher setup costs, low-scale production, inferior mechanical qualities, material limits, and defects. The AM played a significant role in the recent research in several sectors such as aerospace, biomedical, automotive, and construction. The materials such as filaments, wires, powders, paste, films, and liquids could be employed for 3D printing, while polymers are the most prevalent materials produced for printing. Numerous academic researchers employed ASTM and ISO mechanical test standards for measuring the strength of 3D printed objects. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of mechanical properties, applications, process parameters, and future development trends in 3D printing. © 2025 Apple Academic Press, Inc. All rights reserved.