Effect of Hole-Making Strategy on the Mechanical Performance of 3D FDM-Printed Polymers
Abstract
In this research, the effect of hole-making technique on the mechanical properties of FDM-printed polymers is examined. Four common materials (ASA, PETG, Tough PLA, and Hyper PLA) were tested in three types of specimens: no-hole (NH), in-situ hole-printed (PH), and micro-drilled hole (DH). Tensile testing, SEM evaluation, Vicat softening temperature, and melt flow index (MFI) tests were performed. PH specimens demonstrated a systematic decrease in tensile strength and modulus for all materials. DH specimens presented enhanced stiffness for all materials and improved tensile strength for PETG (16.3%) and Tough PLA (7.6%), but strength degradation for ASA and Hyper PLA compared to NH specimens. Surface roughness measurements demonstrated significantly lower Ra values for DH samples compared to PH samples, validating better hole-edge surface quality after drilling. SEM analysis confirmed ring-shaped failure areas around PH and more compact and smooth areas around DH. The mechanical properties were explained in the context of the thermal and rheological properties of each polymer material. The findings of this study clearly show that hole-making techniques have a significant impact on the structural properties of FDM-printed parts.
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Polymers and Plastics
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
September 30, 2026
Submission Date
October 15, 2025
Acceptance Date
March 12, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 28 Number: 84