abstract
- Additive manufacturing can be used to produce structural components, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing by generating components without special tooling. However, there are opportunities for improvement between the use of printed components in prototypes or spare parts and their use in structural components. This gap between prototypes and final components should be reduced to understand the effects of printing parameters on the mechanical behavior of printed pieces. Improving the relationship between printing parameters and the mechanical strength of developed products will enable the prediction of the feasibility of using printed components as structural products. These include Onyx, a viscoelastic material whose main constituent material is nylon; it can be reinforced with chopped, randomly oriented carbon fibers and can be used as a component in itself or as a matrix. However, studies on the effect of ageing on components 3D-printed using Onyx are limited. This experimental study provides valuable insights into the mechanical behavior of printed Onyx, focusing on ageing effects through tensile tests conducted from the as-printed condition up to the 20th week of aging. Additionally, it examines the creep and relaxation responses, starting from the raw condition and extending to the fourth week of aging.