Life Cycle Assessment of ABS Specimens 3D Printed on Fused Deposition Modeling with Sustainable Process Parameters

AbstractThis study conducts a life cycle assessment (LCA) of FDM 3D printed ABS tensile testspecimens, focusing on sustainable process parameters. The LCA evaluates the environmentalimpacts of the printing process, material production, and end-of-life scenarios. Sustainableprocess parameters such as optimized infill density, infill pattern, reduced energy consumptionby nozzle travel, and material consumption of ABS feedstock are analysed to assess theircontribution for reducing the ecological footprint. The study compares conventional andsustainable printing conditions through a cradle-to-grave analysis, including raw materialextraction, manufacturing, use, and end-of-life stages. Results show that adopting sustainableprocess parameters can significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissionswhile maintaining mechanical integrity. The results show that optimizing process parameterscan significantly reduce environmental impacts.