Chai, YuanLi, RachelPerriman, DianaChen, SongQin, Qing HuaSmith, Paul2021-04-22Chai, Y., Li, R.W., Perriman, D.M. et al. Laser polishing of thermoplastics fabricated using fused deposition modelling. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 96, 4295–4302 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-018-1901-50268-3768http://hdl.handle.net/1885/230773Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is a technique of additive manufacturing (AM) which is capable of fast construction of plastic prototypes. AM technology has been utilised in orthopaedics and traumatology to fabricate patient-specific models, surgical guides, and implants. However, the layering build-up by FDM usually generates a deleterious rough surface that limits its application to items such as surgical guide and surgical operating guide, because these items require a highly resolved surface quality. The advancement of laser polishing has been offering a cost-effective and fast manufacturing solution for FDM-constructed patient-specific guides and implants. This investigation explores application potential using a contactless laser scanning to improve the surface quality of FDM-fabricated thermoplastics. The results show that a maximum [68%] reduction in surface roughness was achieved at 3 W CO2 laser power, 150 mm/s scan speed, 30 ms scan delay and 0.025 mm line gap. Laser polishing is suitable to treat the surface of polylactic acid (PLA). This study provides data which supports a new approach to the manufacture of AM-fabricated thermoplastics utilising a laser scanning technique to improve the surface quality.This work has been financially supported by the Australian Research Council PhD Scholarship (LP150100343).application/pdfen-AU© 2018 Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer NatureLaser polishingFused deposition modellingAdditive manufacturingThermoplasticsLaser polishing of thermoplastics fabricated using fused deposition modelling2018-03-2310.1007/s00170-018-1901-52020-11-23