THE EFFECT OF ACETONE AS A POST-PRODUCTION FINISHING TECHNIQUE ON ENTRY-LEVEL MATERIAL EXTRUSION PART QUALITY

Authors

  • Sarel Pretorius Havenga Vaal University of Technology
  • D J De Beer DST Chair: Innovation and Commercialisation of Additive Manufacturing, Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
  • P J Van Tonder Department of Technology Transfer and Innovation, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
  • R I Campbell Department of Technology Transfer and Innovation, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/29-4-1934

Keywords:

Material Extrusion, Additive manufacturing, Post-production finishing techniques, Acetone, Tensile strength, Surface profile measurements

Abstract

Entry-level material extrusion artefacts persistently suffer from questionable weakened end-product production quality, according to industrial standards. These limitations can be addressed by the development of improved finishing techniques that may narrow the gap between low-cost and high-end production methods in additive manufacturing. In doing so, the technology may become available to a larger spectrum of prosumers who previously were reluctant to use entry-level technology because of these limitations. This article describes the effect that acetone has as a post-production finishing technique for low-cost artefact production. Through a series of quantitative investigations, the study provides evidence that acetone reduces the tensile strength, increases polymer ductility, and significantly reduces the surface profile roughness of thermoplastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The potential cost and waste reduction for entry-level manufactured products can then be identified.

 

Author Biography

Sarel Pretorius Havenga, Vaal University of Technology

Idea 2 Product laboratory

Training facilitator and researcher

Downloads

Published

2018-12-10

How to Cite

Havenga, S. P., De Beer, D. J., Van Tonder, P. J., & Campbell, R. I. (2018). THE EFFECT OF ACETONE AS A POST-PRODUCTION FINISHING TECHNIQUE ON ENTRY-LEVEL MATERIAL EXTRUSION PART QUALITY. The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 29(4), 53–64. https://doi.org/10.7166/29-4-1934

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 4 (2018)

Section

General Articles

License

Authors who publish in the Journal agree to the following terms:
  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the Journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this Journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the Journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this Journal.