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4 months ago in Additive Manufacturing By Abhay R
Measuring Axial Load on a 3D-Printed Cylinder Using Strain Gauges
I have a cylindrical test specimen printed in PLA with a 0° raster orientation, and I've bonded a uniaxial strain gauge along the longitudinal axis. The standard hookean calibration assumes isotropic modulus, but I know FDM parts exhibit significantly different stiffness depending on print direction relative to load. I need to extract an accurate effective modulus from this specific orientation to convert my strain readings to meaningful load data.
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By Vishwas Rao Answered 2 months ago
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By Akash Answered 1 month ago
Yes, you can get accurate readings, but the real challenge isn't the strain gauge, it's the 3D-printed part itself. Surface roughness, inconsistent material density between layers, and anisotropic behavior mean the strain your gauge picks up might not evenly represent the actual load. It works best if you print a smooth, flat bonding surface, use annealed parts, and calibrate carefully. Definitely doable, just not as clean as testing a machined metal cylinder.
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