Testing of 3D-Printed Components in the Plastics Industry

Despite the increasing use of 3D-printed high-performance polymers, there is a lack of generally accepted test standards. To speed up their establishment, Cubicure in Vienna has set up a testing lab with testing technology from ZwickRoell. Implemented in accordance with ISO 17296-3, ZwickRoell’s state-of-the-art instruments and testXpert III testing software deliver reliable test results. With the UTM Proline Z010 for tensile and flexure tests, the HIT5.5P Plus impact tester with instrumented pendulum, and the hardness testers for Shore-A and Shore-D, extensive testing options are at their disposal. The HDT/Vicat Standard, which measures the heat deflection temperature of high performance polymers (~300 °C), completes the fleet of machines. While equipping the lab, particular attention was given to carrying out standard-compliant tests with very little use of materials⁠—and therefore small specimen geometries⁠—during the development phase. Equally important was the option to customize test standards in order to be able to characterize new material categories for which test standards currently do not exist. It was decided to move forward with ZwickRoell in Ulm whose testing machines, thanks to innovative software, not only fulfill the listed requirements but are also operator friendly. Other benefits include reliable service and long operating life of the testing machines.