Influence of Printing-Based Factors on the Mechanical Performance of PLA/PLA with Ceramic Reinforcement 3D-Printed Specimens

In this study, the compressive strength and hardness of 3D-printed PLA with a 20% SiC composite structure were tested. Six essential factors were investigated, including reinforcement composition, infill density, infill pattern, layer height, build orientation, and raster angle. Compared to conventional PLA, SiC-reinforced PLA has a 43% increase in compressive strength and a 38% improvement in hardness. Among configurations, samples printed at a 45° raster angle exhibited the maximum mechanical robustness, which was attributable to optimum stress distribution and interlayer bonding. Furthermore, the highest hardness was achieved with a layer height of 0.1 mm and a density of 100% infill, whereas higher layer heights (up to 0.3 mm) produced the optimum compressive strength. This study emphasizes the potential of PLA-SiC composites for high-strength applications, providing a path to developing FDM-printed products with improved structural qualities.