Unidirectional Material Testing Misleading Manufacturing Claims

This white paper discusses the discrepancies between claimed material properties by competitors in the fused filament fabrication (FFF) industry and the actual performance demonstrated by Stratasys testing. It outlines how differences in toolpaths and build orientations affect mechanical test results. The paper emphasizes that while competitors may use optimized unidirectional toolpaths to showcase maximum strength, these methods do not accurately represent typical part performance. Stratasys employs a consistent testing procedure using 45°/-45° raster orientations to ensure isotropic performance across large parts. The document details the testing methodologies for heat deflection temperature, tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance, highlighting the importance of using representative toolpaths for accurate material characterization. The results indicate significant performance differences when using unidirectional toolpaths compared to standard testing methods, underscoring the need for transparency in material testing practices within the manufacturing sector.