Quality Analysis in Rubber 3D Printing
摘要
3D printing is established for processing polymers, metals, and ceramics. However, conventional vulcanizable rubber materials were long time excluded. Recent research by DIK and ITA developed the “Additive Manufacturing of Elastomers” (AME) process, enabling rubber 3D printing for the first time. Prototype components can be generated but the achievable print quality must be carefully considered for application specific requirements. In this context, this study analyzes the currently achievable quality in AME process in terms of printing resolution for geometrically complex parts. The analysis is based on manufacturing of a slightly simplified Benchy model, which is a widely recognized benchmark test in 3D printing. Difficulties encountered during the process and necessary considerations are summarized. Through iterative improvements, world’s first 3D printed rubber Benchy model is generated. Printing quality is compared qualitatively and evaluated using a 3D scan. This paper serves as a comparative reference for equivalent component production and documents the state-of-the-art quality in rubber 3D printing.