Effects of Infill Design and Nozzle Diameter on Tensile Performance of Eco-Friendly PLA
Keywords:
FDM, PLA, eco-friendly biopolymer, infill pattern, nozzle diameter, tensile strength, sustainable manufacturingAbstract
This study investigates the combined effect of nozzle diameter (0.2–0.8 mm) and infill pattern (rectilinear vs. concentric) on the tensile performance and production efficiency of eco-friendly PLA components fabricated using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). Forty ISO 527-2 Type 1A specimens were printed using a Bambu Lab A1 mini printer and tested for ultimate tensile strength (Rm), elongation at break (εb), and print time. Results indicate that nozzle diameters of 0.4–0.6 mm combined with concentric infill deliver the highest mechanical performance, achieving tensile strengths of 45–55 MPa and elongation superior to rectilinear infill by 10–15%. Increasing nozzle diameter from 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm reduces printing time by up to 80–85%, with only an ~11% decrease in tensile strength, highlighting a favorable strength-to-time trade-off for rapid prototyping and small-series manufacturing. These findings provide practical guidelines for optimizing FDM parameters to enhance sustainability, reduce energy consumption, and support circular economy principles in additive manufacturing.
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