3D print latch casing test
- Chantel LeClercq
This test aims to test the strength of various 3D printing materials of the latch casing (found in the light blue in the image below) under 200 lb of force when using a 2-part epoxy adhesive. The adhesive is for attaching the latch casing to the inside of the car, which is made from carbon fiber.
To make the test easier to conduct, a mock latch casing was 3D-modelled with the same adhesion surface area as the normal latch casing model above. The mock latch casing was then attached to a flat carbon fiber sample. A picture of the 3D model is below.
Three 3D printing materials were chosen: PLA (pink), PETG, (blue) and resin (grey). They were then attached to the carbon fiber sample using 2-part epoxy. A spring force gauge and a hook were used to determine the total applied pulling force exerted on the prints. One limitation was that there were only two 50lb spring gauges, meaning we could only measure a maximum of 100 lb. The goal is to observe if either the 3D printing material fails (fractures or breaks), or the print rips off the carbon fiber.
Here are the results we found:
3D Printing Material | Total applied force (lb) | Observations |
|---|---|---|
PLA (pink) | 60 | The top portion of the print broke off. The large surface area that was glued onto the carbon fiber remained glued down. |
PETG (blue) | 82 | The whole print came off, suggesting the epoxy didn’t stick well on the PETG |
Resin (grey) | 100 | This print did not experience any breakage. Even at 100lbs, it remained intact, perhaps even taking on over 100 lb. |
Ultimately, the winner of this test is resin! The resin print showed great interaction with the 2-part epoxy and even at 100lb of force, it held up strongly.