Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties of PLA Material Used For 3D Printing Solar E-Hub Component

Abstract

The advent of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies revolutionized design and production processes across various industries. In renewable energy, AM enabled new possibilities for optimizing solar e-hub (solar energy harvesting module) configurations, enhancing efficiency and performance. This study examined critical considerations such as material selection, durability, and cost-effectiveness in solar hub development. This fast-prototyping technique was controlled by computer-aided design (CAD) software like CREO Parametric 7.0 and Creality Slicer 4.8. Experimental results indicated that PLA (Polylactic acid) materials exhibited superior strength, with an impact energy of 4.8 Joules. The deformation study revealed that the maximum load of 22 MPa aligned with the ultimate tensile strength of PLA, and a hardness test result of 83.1 HRF featured its exemplary hardness properties. These findings advanced the understanding of using AM to investigate mechanical behaviours of PLA materials and optimize solar e-hub configurations for portable device applications, promoting sustainable energy solutions and the adoption of renewable energy technologies. In addition, the successful implementation of this approach will enable the renewable energy sectors to minimize the carbon foot-prints towards helping the global net-zero emissions by aligning the circular economy approach.

Keywords

• Additive manufacturing
• Sustainable materials
• Solar e-hub
• Mechanical testing
• Polylactic acid (PLA)