POST-PROCESSING PROCESSES OF POLYMER PARTS MANUFACTURED BY FDM METHOD: A REVIEW OF CURRENT RESEARCH

Abstract

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) has become a key technology in additive manufacturing for rapid production of complex geometry polymer parts without expensive molds. However, anisotropy of mechanical properties, insufficient interlayer adhesion, and geometric dimensional deviations significantly limit the application scope of such products in critical structures. In response to these challenges, post-processing technologies are actively developing, allowing to increase density, strength, and accuracy of FDM parts after printing. The article presents a comparative analysis of thermal, thermomechanical, and chemical post-processing methods, as well as complex combined approaches for improving properties of polymer products. Structural changes in the polymer matrix during treatment and material behavior at different processing stages have been analyzed.

Special attention is paid to temperature, annealing duration, and mechanical loading during heating. The influence of these factors on strength, elastic modulus, interlayer adhesion, surface roughness, and dimensional stability of finished parts is discussed using data from recent studies. Optimal selection of processing modes ensures substantial growth of mechanical characteristics and achievement of required dimensional tolerances for products. The analysis highlights the importance of glass transition temperature thresholds and cooling rates in preventing unwanted thermal shrinkage and warpage. The presented recommendations enable well-grounded selection of post-processing parameters for specific polymer materials like PLA, ABS, and PETG, considering their unique operating conditions. This review helps engineers move from prototypes to real industrial parts and provides practical guidance for selecting appropriate treatment methods.