3D Printing Methods - Infill

What is Infill?

What sits inside a 3D print’s outer shells is called infill, and it can be adjusted with respect to density – 0% is hollow while 100% is solid – and pattern.

A major benefit (and necessity) of 3D printing is that parts can be varying degrees of hollow. From a production perspective, this reduces material and cost as well as the weight of the final product. And from a printing perspective, it saves valuable time!

Quick 2D infills (Low Strength)

Typical Infil Density: 0-15%

Are used for quick, but weak models

(generally early prototypes or prints to check design work)

Method(s): Lines, Zig Zag

Strong 2D infills (Medium Strength)

Typical Infil Density: 15-50%

Are used for everyday prints.

Method(s): Grid, Triangles, Tri-hexagon

Strong 3D infills (Strong Strength)

Typical Infil Density: 15-50%

Are used to make the object equally strong in all directions.

Method(s): Cubic, Cubic subdivision, Gyroid, Octet, Quarter Cubic

Concentric 3D infills (Flexible)

Typical Infil Density: 0-100%

Are used for flexible materials.

Method(s): Concentric, Cross, Cross 3D

Infill Examples

Lines

Lines: Generates multiple lines per layer

Zig Zag

Zig Zag: Is simply one constant line

(unless interrupted by the model)

Grid

Grid: Is a self-explanatory 2D pattern, the main advantage of grid is print speed (compared to Triangles and Tri-hexagons)

Triangles

Triangles: A 2D mesh made of triangles, this pattern has an inherent advantage in strength when a load is applied perpendicular to the object’s face. It also makes sense for parts with thin, rectangular components, which might otherwise have very few connections between wall

Tri-hexagons

Tri-hexagons: This 2D pattern produces hexagons interspersed with triangles. One advantage is that hexagons are an efficient shape, making them a strong infill pattern relative to their material usage.

Cubic

Cubic: This is a 3D pattern of stacked and tilted cubes

Cubic subdivision

Cubic subdivision: This variation of cubic uses less material

Octet

Octet: Also known as tetrahedral infill, this pattern stacks pyramid shapes.

Quarter cubic

Quarter cubic: This 3D pattern is like octet, but half of the pyramid shapes are shifted with respect to the other half

Gyroid

Gyroid: A particularly unique 3D pattern, which gives the impression of waves. Nevertheless, it is equally strong in multiple directions. This infill pattern would therefore be a good choice for a part that will be stressed in multiple ways.

Concentric

Concentric: This 2D pattern produces “waves” through the interior of the print, mimicking the shapes of the outer walls. This is much like how a stone thrown into water makes concentric circular ripples on the surface

Cross

Cross: Another 2D pattern, cross produces grids of what appear to be very fanciful crosses. The spaces between crosses and grids allow for bending and twisting.

Atlantis 3D Printing