The 3D printing process has a unique capability of controlling the infill or material density of the printed part with respect to the actual CAD data. The actual part volume may be lesser than the CAD part volume figures. This helps in achieving optimized strength, weight & structure parameters which can be increased or decreased according to the requirement. In comparison to other manufacturing processes, 3D printing has the capability which allows the designer to control the two key parameters such as wall thickness & infill density. Infill exists within the periphery of the outer wall. The infill parameters can be controlled by slicers software when the model is converted into G-codes. Further, infill has two key parameters i.e., infill density and infill pattern. In this article, we’ll discuss the various types of infill patterns & infill density in detail.
3D printing & conventional manufacturing
Conventional manufacturing like CNC machining where the part is carved out substantively of the solid stock by the cutter as per the CAM profile. There’s no way to control the solid density hence the final geometry is solid from the inside.
In formative processes like injection molding, the hold plastic in semi-solid form is forced into the empty cavity of the mold. There’s no way to control the solid density due to the type of the process except the ‘Gas-assisted injection molding’ which is capable of hollow parts by the application of high-pressure gas.
Another formative process is sheet metal fabrication forms the part by bending the metal sheet in pre-fabricated dies. The formed part takes the shape of the die and there’s no way to alter the solid density of the part.
Infill density percentage
Infill density means the completeness of the inside of the solid part. This is usually defined as the percentage(0~100%) of the total solid volume in the slicing software. Zero means hollow from the inside and just outer perimeter walls. The part will be very weak in strength and not suitable for functional testing. The 100% infill part is completely solid from the inside hence a fully dense part but costs higher. Apart from weight, print duration and material quantity consumed are
3D SculpLab