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The printing variable least addressed in previous research aiming to reveal the effect of the FFF process parameters on the printed PLA part’s quality and properties is the filament color. Moreover, the color of the PLA, as well as its manufacturer, are rarely mentioned when the experimental conditions for the printing of the samples are described, although current existing data reveal that their influence on the final characteristics of the print should not be neglected. In order to point out the importance of this influential parameter, a natural and a black-colored PLA filament, produced by the same manufacturer, were selected. The dimensional accuracy, tensile strength, and friction properties of the samples were analyzed and compared for printing temperatures ranging from 200 C up to 240 C. The experimental results clearly showed different characteristics depending on the polymer color of samples printed under the same conditions. Therefore, the optimization of the FFF process parameters for the 3D-printing of PLA should always start with the proper selection of the type of the PLA material, regarding both its color and the fabricant.
This study examines the effect of elevated printing speeds (100–600 mm/s) on the dimensional accuracy and tensile strength of PLA components fabricated via fused deposition modeling (FDM). To isolate the influence of printing speed, all other parameters were kept constant, and two filament variants—natural (unpigmented) and black PLA—were analyzed. ISO 527-2 type 1A specimens were produced and tested for dimensional deviations and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). The results indicate that printing speed has a marked impact on both geometric precision and mechanical performance. The optimal speed of 300 mm/s provided the best compromise between dimensional accuracy and tensile strength for both filaments. At speeds below 300 mm/s, under-extrusion caused weak layer bonding and air gaps, while speeds above 300 mm/s led to over-extrusion and structural defects due to thermal stress and rapid cooling. Black PLA yielded better dimensional accuracy at higher speeds, with cross-sectional deviations between 2.76% and 5.33%, while natural PLA showed larger deviations of up to 8.63%. However, natural PLA exhibited superior tensile strength, reaching up to 46.59 MPa, with black PLA showing up to 13.16% lower UTS values. The findings emphasize the importance of speed tuning and material selection for achieving high-quality, reliable, and efficient FDM prints.
