PRODUCTION FACTORS INFLUENCING MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FDM PRINTED EMBOSSING DIES

Embossing technique is an essential operation in the print finishing process. It entails permanently changing the shape of the paper surface by applying pressure with the embossing die, so as to create a recessed or raised image. Embossing dies are made using conventional techniques such as chemical etching or milling. These techniques in the production of conventional embossing die imply the use of different machines and devices, plenty workspace, and often insufficient flexibility in quick job changes. By replacing conventional with additive manufacturing techniques, these problems imposed by the market can be overcome to a great extent. Using additive manufacturing techniques in embossing dies production process requires prior understanding of factors influencing mechanical and physical properties of produced samples. Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) technique is commonly used in additive manufacturing due to its simplicity and availability. The surface roughness of FDM produced embossing dies is an important factor which can alter the quality of the embossed paper material. Excellent mechanical properties of the die are also required due to pressure forces applied in the embossing process. This paper aims to investigate the influencing process factors in FDM additive manufacturing found in current scientific researches and implement these findings for embossing dies production. Influence of these factors on surface roughness, tensile and compression strength, the quantity of used material and production time were investigated. Findings imply that vast variety of process factors influence chosen dependent variables of samples printed with FDM technique. Many researchers have investigated these factors, but mainly in the field of industrial engineering, electronics and bioengineering. Hence, the importance of this paper is in finding a way to implement these findings in the field of graphic engineering and design.