PRINT FOR FDM – INFILL

Infill – FDM parts normally not printed solid. To save on material and reduce build time, parts are printed with an internal, low density structure known as infill. Infill percentage is a parameter that can be varied based on the application of a part. For its strength, parts can be printed 80% solid. If a model is only used for for and fit testing, the infill percentage can be decreased to as low as 10%, allowing the part to be made faster and at a lower cost. 20% is common infill percentage for FDM.

Infill Geometry – standard print normally use default infill setting which is from 20%  lowest at 10% with rectangular infill geometry. The are four commons infill geomtery shapes

1. Rectangular – standard infill pattern for most FDM parts. Has strength in all directions and is relatively fast to print. Requires the printer to do least amount of bridging across the infill pattern.

2. Triangular or diagonal – used when strength is needed in the direction of the walls. Triangular infill takes longer to print

3. Wiggle – a good choice for design that need to be soft, to twist, or to compress particularly when printed with soft rubbery material or softer nylon

4. Honeycomb – popular infill. Is very strong providing strength in all direction

Infill parameters are typicall defined by the applications of the part. Although 20% is the default infill percentage, increasing this value can have a significant impact on part strength, however this will result in increased build time and cost. For application where the part will be mounted or screwed into, a minimum of 50% infill is recommended. If strength is critical and a light weight structure is still desirable, honeycomb or triangular infill are the best solution

infill pattern

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