How to Get Perfect Print Results with 3D Printing (Infill)

Compared to other manufacturing methods, 3D printing allows you to carefully control the exterior walls (or perimeters) and the infill. No matter how thick they are, the walls are the part's outermost parts. The infill is everything within the walls.

You have some control over the walls, but the infill is much more dynamic and has a big impact on a part's strength, weight, structure, buoyancy, and more. In 3D printing, you can set a number of parameters that control how the part's infill is made. When a 3D model is turned into G-code instructions, these parameters are set in a programme called a "slicer." Most of these parameters are important, but the most important ones are infill density and infill pattern. 

In this blog, we'll talk about the basics of these things as well as some of the most common infill densities and infill patterns.

Infill Density 

The "fullness" of the interior of a part is determined by its infill density. This is typically defined as a percentage ranging from 0 to 100 in slicers, with 0% indicating that a part is hollow and 100% indicating that it is completely solid. You can probably imagine that this has a significant impact on the weight of a part: the heavier a part is, the fuller the interior of the part is.

In addition to its effect on weight, infill density can also affect print time, the amount of material consumed, and buoyancy. The strength of something is determined not only by itself but also by a multitude of other factors, such as the material and the layer height.

What Percentage Do I Need to Use?

I would recommend an infill density of 15–50% for most standard prints that don't need to be very strong. This density percentage allows us to print the part at less time, it also saves material, and gives a good amount of strength.

(Standard Prints: 15–50%)

I would recommend an infill density of 50-100% for most functional prints that need to be very strong. By this percentage the printing time is increased so as the material usage is increased and the part that is printed is strong.

(Functional Prints: 50-100%)

For small models or parts which is only used for the display purpose or prototype purpose, for that I would recommend an infill density of only 0-15%. This density percentage allows us to print the part at very less time by consuming very less material. Also the part printed is very lightweight but it is not strong.

(Small model Prints: 0-15%)

Lastly, the parts printed with flexible materials like TPU can be printed with any infill density. But we have to keep in mind that higher the infill density, the less flexible the part will be.

(Flexible Prints: 1-100%)

Infill Pattern

Infill pattern refers to the structure and form of the material within a part. Infill patterns, which can range from simple lines to complex geometric shapes, can affect a part's strength, weight, print time, and even flexibility.

There are numerous distinct infill patterns across various slicer software. For instance, Cura offers 14 different infill patterns, while PrusaSlicer  offers 17 and Simplify3D offers 6.

Similar to infill density, certain patterns are superior to others for specific functions. Different infill patterns have distinct characteristics, including complexity, material efficiency, and the number of connective strength planes (two-dimensional or three-dimensional).

Which Pattern Should I Choose?

Lines: The lines infill pattern is made up of lines that are printed in either the X or Y direction. This infill pattern is strong in only two dimensions, which makes it good for printing quickly. The lines pattern doesn't use a lot of material, so it's not too heavy.

Line Pattern

Grid: The grid infill pattern looks like line pattern, but every layer has two-dimensional lines with twice as much space between them. This pattern has strength in two dimensions but is still pretty strong. The grid pattern takes about the same amount of time and material as other patterns.

Grid Pattern

Triangles: The triangles pattern looks like three lines that go in three different directions in the XY plane. This infill pattern only gives strength in two dimensions, but it can still be used to make strong prints.

Triangle Pattern

Tri-hexagon: The tri-hexagon infill pattern is made up of lines that go in three different directions in the XY plane, making hexagons with triangles in the middle. This infill pattern gives two-dimensional strength and is pretty good for strong prints. 

Tri-hexagon Pattern

Cubic: This pattern makes stacked cubes, but because both the X- and Y-axes are tilted 45 degrees, they look more like triangles at any given time. The pattern is very strong in all three dimensions, but it takes a bit more time and material than some others.

Cubic Pattern

Octet: The octet infill pattern is similar to the cubic pattern, but instead of increasing triangles with slopes, it makes squares. This infill pattern is a three-dimensional design that looks great and is useful for making parts that need to be strong.

Octet Pattern

Gyroid: Even though the gyroid infill pattern might look the coolest, it might also be the most unusual. It has irregular, concave curves that eventually cross each other. It's meant to find the best balance between strength, material, and the amount of time it takes to print.

Gyroid Pattern

The above mentioned are some of the common types of infill pattern that we regulary/always use while 3D priting. Some other infill patterns are also there such as;

Lightning Pattern

Cross Pattern

Concentric Pattern

(Standard Prints: Grid or triangles)

(Functional Prints: Cubic, gyroid, or octet)

(Small model Prints: Lines)

(Flexible Prints: Concentric)

 Thank you guys, that's it for the day. Keep learning, Keep growing.