EFFECTS OF PROCESSING PARAMETERS ON HARDNESS OF 3D PRINTED PARTS
Development of rapid prototyping systems and materials causes their wider implementation in many areas of human activities. Three-dimensional printing technique, invented in Massachusetts Institute of Technology and developed by Z Corporation, nowadays is asserting itself in both a direct and indirect production of parts and assemblies of any complexity. However, like any rapid prototyping technique, it has significant limitations, mainly in available materials and material properties. Owing to a poor material properties, all three-dimensional printed models need to be post-processed. Poor material properties open possibilities for a various researches of the effects of processing parameters on printed models. In this paper we are presenting research of the effects of the layer thickness, building direction and post-processing on the hardness of three-dimensional printed models. In our research we found that the variations of considered parameters do not have a significant influence on the hardness of the three-dimensional printed models.