ANALYSIS OF 3D PRINTED METRIC NUTS MANUFACTURED BY THE MEX METHOD FROM ASA MATERIAL

Additive technologies represent revolutionary manufacturing technology for many industries, enabling the rapid production of geometrically complex parts or components that replace multi-part assemblies. For those, additive technologies have become an important topic for industry and the military sector. The ability to 3D print parts in foreign operations with minimal manufacturing technology and other components needed to repair damaged equipment and techniques is currently being adopted. This work focuses on the comparison of selected process parameters of the MEX-TRB/P/ASA additive manufacturing method (also known as FFF/FDM) for the production of M10 metric threads and their tensile testing. 3D printed threads were also compared with threads produced by tapping and forming. The results show that the formed threads in 3D printed polymer nuts are completely unsatisfactory and significantly reduce the load carrying capacity of the thread. The highest tensile strength of 3D printed threads was measured when the specimens were oriented at 45°, but with increased material consumption and production time. At the same time, it was found that by appropriate choice of material and process parameters it is possible to achieve a load capacity of more than 14,7 MPa for an M10 polymer nut without further post-processing.