Experimental Analysis on an Additively Manufactured ABS Living Hinge

A study on the plastic behavior of an additively manufactured acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) living hinge was conducted using a MakerBot 2X. Initial research included numerical and analytical linear analyses on a typical living hinge design. This paper introduces the portion of the research that explores the application of traditional design practices to entry-level additive manufacturing machines. Tensile testing for material properties was conducted to refine the numerical model. Experimental rotational testing was conducted for data on the non-linear, plastic behavior experienced during application. Verification of the numerical model with experimental results will be used to guide future work on exploring alternate design geometries that leverage the advantages of additive manufacturing’s design freedom for smoother stress distribution on the hinge.