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3D printing as a manufacturing method is gaining more popularity since 3D printing machines are becoming easily accessible. Especially in a prototyping process of a machine, they can be used, and complex parts with high quality surface finish can be manufactured in a timely manner. However, there is a need to study the effects of different manufacturing parameters on the materials properties of the finished parts. Specifically, this chapter explains the effects of six different process parameters on the impact resistance. In particular, print temperature, print speed, infill ratio, infill pattern, layer height, and print orientation parameters were studied, and their effects on impact resistance were measured experimentally. Moreover, the optimum values of the process parameters for impact resistance were found. This chapter provides an important guideline for 3D manufacturing in terms of impact resistance of the printed parts. Furthermore, by using this methodology the effects of different 3D printing process parameters on the other material, properties can be determined.

When the 3D printing process is considered, there are also other parameters, such as nozzle size, flow rate of material, print-speed, print-bed temperature, cooling rate, and pattern of printing. There are also dependencies that will be addressed in between these parameters; for example, if the printing temperature is increased, it is not clear if the viscosity of the material will increase or decrease. This chapter aims to explain the effect of printing temperature on layer sticking while dimensional accuracy is achieved. Theoretical modelling and experimental testing will be performed to prove the relationship. This type of formulation can be later adapted into a slicer program, so that the program automatically selects some of the printing parameters to achieve desired dimensional accuracy and layer sticking.