Viscoplastic Study of 3D Printed Carbon Fiber Composites

The research presented here involves an attempt to model the viscoplastic response of 3D printed carbon fiber composites made using the Mark Two 3D printer by Markforged. The ability to manufacture composites through the use of 3D printers is relatively new and contains gaps in the various mechanical properties of the material, of interest is the viscoplastic response. Due to the fabrication method, the properties of the composites cannot be assumed to be similar to that of conventionally made composites as the fused deposition in printing alters the material properties. In order to understand the effects of the printed fiber orientation on the viscoplastic response, four different configurations were to be tested: 0ᴼ, 45ᴼ, 90ᴼ, and a mixed 0ᴼ/45ᴼ/90ᴼ laminate. The model that is investigated in this paper was developed at NASA by C.T. Sun and Thomas Gates. In order to utilize this model, and determine the material properties of the composite, data had to be gathered from a series of tensile and stress relaxation tests. A third type of test, creep, was also performed in order to validate the model predication of creep at different temperatures and loads. The viscoplasticity model presented in this paper was able to get rough estimations of the creep response for the 3D printed carbon fiber with Onyx thermoplastic composite. The model seems to be more accurate at the lower temperatures for both stiff and less stiff composites. The model also seemed to be more accurate at all temperatures with the stiffer specimens, which would exhibit a weaker creep response

Problems of Automating a 3D Printer for Public Vending – Problem Analysis and Research

Advancements in technology have made 3D printing easily accessible to a large audience while maintaining the ability to create highly detailed products. Capitalizing on this, research was done into the possibility of automating a 3D printer and operating it in a public setting. It was discovered that in order to combat the main problems a 3D printer experiences throughout its lifetime research would be focused onto two primary research subjects, minimizing human interaction and enacting proactive measures to prevent future errors. From there many systems within the vending machine were analyzed to find ways to reduce human interaction and design a cost effective solution for that problem. As a prototype design was finalized, it was determined that focusing on lowering regular maintenance with some automation is more efficient than completely automating the system. As a result, the current design includes linear actuators for part transfer into and out of storage, a storage carousel to hold finished prints until pick-up, and a live-feed camera to monitor the status of the printer. Looking forward, the current plan is to investigate to what degree the 3D printer can be automated beyond the necessary mechanism and streamline the process of public printing via the use of digital tools

Project Daedalus: An Additive Manufacturing Vending Machine

The project was a research endeavor focused on designing and building a vending machine for 3D-printed parts. It also had the secondary objective of catalyzing leadership qualities among its membership by emphasizing individual responsibility and forward thinking. The project began in the spring of 2015, when the topic of autonomous 3D-printing was chosen, funding was secured, and the majority of the leadership was brought on. Over the summer and into the fall semester the team developed project requirements and infrastructure, and gathered members from the parent organization. By December of 2015 most of the machine design had been completed, and the parts were en route so that building could be started in the spring semester. Due to a combination of time constraints, underestimated difficulty, and unforeseen logistical circumstances, the project was not able to achieve its primary goal of having a working prototype by May 2016. However, it is the belief of the project’s leadership and many of the members that it succeeded in its secondary goal of creating competent and confident leaders, several of whom went on to lead projects of their own