Effect of raster orientation on large-scale robotic 3D printing of short carbon fiber-reinforced PLA composites

Additive manufacturing in building construction can be extended for mass customization of building components or even complex mold making. This study examines the process parameters of raster orientation of short carbon fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (SCF-PLA) and neat PLA in large-scale 3D printing. Three raster orientations-unidirectional, cross-ply, and quasi-isotropic layups-were printed using a pellet extruder assembled on an industrial robotic arm. Tensile and flexural tests were conducted to characterize the differences between SCF-PLA and neat PLA across all raster orientations. This study shows that neat PLA has higher tensile strength compared to SCF-PLA, and quasi-isotropic orientation can improve the week mechanical properties of both SCFPLA and PLA. This research highlights the interface bonding challenges encountered with larger 3D printed filaments, which result in more significant pores. Furthermore, any factor that modifies rheological properties of the filament, such as carbon filling, can lead to a higher likelihood of material defects. To understand this discrepancy, microstructure analyses were conducted on intact and fractured 3D printed samples, including the analysis of micro voids, interlayer voids, and bonding between SCF and the PLA matrix. This suggests that the effects of quasi-isotropic layups can be applied to enhance 3D print large-scale polymer-based building components.