Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) allows producing real parts from CAD data from materials with
different characteristics compared to the final model, presenting dissimilar mechanical properties
between the prototype and the product. The purpose of this work is to correlate the mechanical
behavior of beam-type specimens produced by SLS with build orientation angle used as a process
parameter, also attempting to demonstrate how this parameter affects the accuracy of the
Empirical Similitude Method (ESM). ESM presents itself as a valuable tool when creating scale
models with SLS, specifically in the framework of evolutionary product design. More
specifically, the Young modulus variation of test specimens of well-known dimensions and
material (DuraformTM PA2
), will be characterized by loading them within the elastic range. The
resulting elastic deformations will be measured using the technique of Electronic Speckle Pattern
Interferometry (ESPI) for small deformations in an out-of-plane configuration, contrasting these
results with the elastic theory of deformations. As a main result, it was found that there exists a
linear correlation between the build angle and the elastic modulus of the parts. Secondly, it was
demonstrated empirically that the ESM predicts better the mechanical response of the part than
TSM. Moreover, a 30% error reduction can be achieved within the ESM when using the build
orientation angle as a process parameter.Mechanical Engineerin