Influence of geometry, reinforcement, and sterilisation on the dimensional accuracy of additively manufactured carbon fibre-reinforced nylon composites.

Abstract

Dimensional accuracy is a critical quality metric in manufacturing, particularly for medical devices subjected to sterilisation and disinfection. While additive manufacturing (AM), especially fused filament fabrication (FFF), facilitates the production of complex geometries, challenges such as void formation, surface deformation, and mechanical instability persist. This study evaluated the impact of sterilisation (autoclaving) and disinfection (ethanol) on the dimensional stability of 3D-printed