This paper introduces a methodology to study the anisotropic elastic constants of technical phenylene polysulfide thermoplastic (PPS), printed using fused deposition modeling (FDM) in order to provide designers with a guide to achieve the required mechanical properties in a printed part. The properties given by the manufacturer are usually taken from injected samples and these are not the real properties for printed parts. Compared to other plastic materials, PPS offers higher mechanical and thermal resistance, lower moisture absorption, higher dimensional stability, is highly resistant to chemical attacks and environmental aging, and its fireproof performance is good. One of the main difficulties presented when calculating and designing for FDM printing is that printed parts present anisotropic behavior i.e., they do not have the same properties in different directions. Haltera-type samples were printed in the three manufacturing directions according to optimum parameters for material printing, aimed at calculating the anisotropic matrix of the material. The samples were tested in order to meet standards and values for elastic modulus, shear modulus and tensile strength were obtained, using Digital Image Correlation System to measure the deformations. An approximated transversally isotropic matrix was defined using the obtained values. The fracture was analyzed using SEM microscopy to check whether the piece was printed correctly. Finally, the obtained matrix was validated by a flexural test and a finite element simulation.

The technology of epoxy tooling, at present under continuous development, is used for the rapid manufacture of cost-effective tools for small batch production. It is a valid alternative with no need for expensive investment in metallic moulds for the development of new products. Current investigations are focused on improvements to the production system, improved tool performance, the cost reduction of moulds and tool manufacturing sustainability. In this paper, both the advantages and the disadvantages of epoxy tooling in injection moulding, wax injection, metal stamping and hot embossing are compared with conventional techniques. Following a brief introduction of rapid tooling technologies, the latest advances of epoxy tooling and their implementation in different manufacturing processes are all analysed. These developments refer to the production of new ad-hoc epoxy composites, increased productivity using conformal cooling channels, the reduction of the tooling manufacturing costs through waste reuse and the emerging industry 4.0 technologies for smart manufacturing and tooling. The main objective is to identify both the challenges facing epoxy tooling techniques and future research directions.

The objective of this study is to improve the adhesion between SMC and EPDM Rubber without the application of a solvent-based adhesive. The influence of the addition of different percentages of phenolic resin, as an adhesion promoter, in the SMC, has been studied. The SMC was prepared in a conventional continuous SMC machine. The EPDM rubber was over-injected on the SMC part, and then vulcanized. The chemical bonding between both materials was produced during the rubber vulcanization step. The SMC-EPDM bond quality was characterized in different ways: 1) mechanically, determining the adhesion strength, 2) optically, comparing the surfaces of the SMC and the rubber after separating them, and 3) chemically, analyzing by DSC the heat of reaction of mixtures of rubber with the different resins used. It has been concluded 1) that SMC-EPDM adhesion is achieved with polyester resins but not with vinyl ester resins, 2) that the addition of phenolic resin promotes the chemical adhesion between SMC and EPDM rubber and 3) that the chemical bonding between both materials occurs because of the double bonds of residual maleic units of the polyester, which are more abundant when phenolic resin is added.

3D printing with filament extrusion technology is a process in which the thermoplastic molten material is sequentially accumulated layer by layer on a construction platform. 3D printers use a slicer software that converts 3D digital models into printing instructions. The software calculates the trajectory of the extruder within the printer, from three-dimensional mesh-based models. The input of the lamination software is a “.stl” file and the output is a “.gcode” file. For each layer, the lamination program generates the path that the printer extruder will travel, this could determine if a part is correctly made or not. The objective of this study has been to analyze, with a view to industry implementation of the 3D printing, if the slicer software used in the extrusion 3D printing of short glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic, influences the final results that are obtained in the printed parts. It has been worked with four 3D printing slicer software, and it has been analyzed if there are significantly differences in mechanical and dimensional properties in the printed parts. For which, in the printing tests, always the same filament printer, printing material, part design, ".stl" file, and values for the percentage and type of filling, height layer and skin thickness have been used. The additive material used was a 2.85 mm diameter filament of 30% short glass fiber reinforced polyamide 6. It has been concluded that the slicer software, considering the evaluated ones, influences the results of the percentage of deformation at maximum tension, of the printed parts. The influence on the values of the resistance and the tensile modulus is not significant. Keywords: Filament fused fabrication (FFF), fused deposition modeling (FDM), short fibre composites, slicer software, printing parameters, tensile strength. La impresión 3D con tecnología de extrusión de filamento, es un proceso en el que el material fundido se acumula secuencialmente capa a capa en una plataforma de construcción. Las impresoras 3D utilizan software de laminación que convierten modelos digitales 3D en instrucciones de impresión. El software calcula las trayectorias de la extrusora de la impresora, a partir de modelos tridimensionales basados en mallas. La información de entrada en el software de laminación es un archivo con extensión “.stl” y la salida es un archivo con extensión “.gcode”. Para cada capa, el programa de laminación genera la ruta que recorre el extrusor de la impresora, y determina que la impresión de la pieza sea precisa, inestable o errónea. El objetivo de este estudio ha consistido en analizar, con vistas a la implementación de la impresión 3D en la industria, si específicamente el software laminador utilizado en la impresión de termoplástico reforzado con fibra corta de vidrio, por medio de la tecnología de extrusión de filamento, influye en los resultados finales que se obtienen en las piezas impresas. Se ha trabajado con cuatro tipos de software de laminación de impresión 3D, y se han analizado los resultados en las propiedades mecánicas y dimensionales de las piezas impresas en función de software utilizado. Para lo cual, en todas las pruebas se ha fijado la impresora de filamento, el material de impresión, el diseño de pieza y el fichero “.stl”, y se han mantenido los mismos valores en las variables que definen el porcentaje y tipo de relleno interno, la altura de capa depositada y el espesor de piel. El material aditivo utilizado ha sido un filamento de 2,85 mm de poliamida reforzada con 30% de fibra corta de vidrio. Se ha concluido que el software laminador, considerando los evaluados, influye sobre el todo en los resultados del porcentaje de deformación a tensión máxima, de las piezas impresas. No siendo significativa la influencia del software en los valores de la resistencia y el módulo a tracción. Palabras clave: Impresión 3D por extrusión de filamento, compuestos de fibra corta, software de laminación, parámetros de impresión 3D, resistencia a tracción.