Influence of building orientation on failure mechanism and flexural properties of LOM specimens†

This paper aims to define the best building orientation for parts manufactured with the laminated object manufacturing technique (LOM), to enhance their flexural performance. Previous research has shown that parts manufactured with LOM have the ability to withstand higher deflections than components created through other layer manufacturing techniques, but, so far, no relation between the building orientation and flexural strength of parts has been assessed. Four types of specimens have been manufactured, each of them using a different building orientation. They have been tested in a fourloading-points machine to evaluate their failure mode, and extract a conclusion of the best building orientation towards flexural load. 45 degrees was found to be the best building orientation in terms of maximum load before failure. Furthermore, a repetitive failure pattern was found for each tested condition. It is confirmed that building orientation is a relevant parameter in LOM manufacturing with influence on the mechanical properties of parts.