In the FDM process, infill is the percentage of filling in a 3D model. This means an object with 0% infill is completely hollow inside, while an object with 100% infill is completely solid inside. With us you can now read what you need to know about the topic of infill for planning your 3D print.
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Which infill is recommended?
For most 3D printed objects, values of 70-80% infill prove to be completely sufficient, since above this value no significant gain in stability can be expected. The case is completely different for objects such as pyramids, vases, cones, sculptures, etc., i.e. models that have a shape that changes upwards. In these cases, an infill between 0 and 10% is acceptable.
For 3D prints with an even surface on the object, an infill of over 10% should be planned. This is due to the fact that the smaller the proportion, the greater the distance between two walls. This in turn means that surfaces begin to sag, which means that no flat surface can be created.
Pros and cons of infill
On the one hand, a larger infill naturally means more stability. At the same time, however, the increased use of infill entails both a greater expenditure of time and a significantly higher consumption of materials.
It is therefore advisable to carefully weigh up stability on the one hand and time and material expenditure on the other.
What types of infill are there?
A basic distinction is made between infill of low, medium and high strength, depending on the density of the material.
Low strength: Infill with a density of 0-15% has low strength and is used for figures or decorative objects. Such infill is usually in line or zigzag patterns.
Medium strength: An infill density of 15-50% (also known as standard) results in medium strength. Such infill is typically used for various standard objects. Grids, triangles, honeycombs or tri-hexagons are the classic patterns of medium-strength infill. By the way, the most commonly used infill density is 20-25%.
High strength: From a density of 50% (and up to 100%) infill offers high strength. This form of infill is primarily required for robust objects, especially for mechanical purposes. Solid infill patterns range from cubic to cubic subdivision to octet and gyroid structure.
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