This master's thesis focuses on the development and enhancement of an open-source tensile testing device for evaluating the mechanical properties of 3D-printed polymer materials. The student will design, build, and upgrade a testing machine inspired by the Open-Pull project by CNC Kitchen. The device will include components such as a load cell, stepper motors, and a control system based on a Raspberry Pi and microcontrollers. For strain measurement, an optical extensometer using a standard camera will be tested, alongside alternative non-optical methods. The thesis includes testing commonly used 3D printing polymers (e.g., PLA, PETG, ABS) and evaluating the reliability of the measurement system.

More information: Open-Pull GitHub Repository
Image source: YouTube Video

Contact: Janko Slavič