The YouTube channel Slant 3D investigated how the infill density in 3D printing affects the strength of the printed parts. To do this, several identical 3D printed parts were produced with different infill settings and then subjected to mechanical stress.
As shown in the video, increasing the infill density generally leads to a proportional increase in strength. However, from 90% infill, there was a significant jump in the increase in strength. While the parts with 10-80% infill largely followed the expected linear increase, the maximum load-bearing capacity of the samples with 90% and 100% infill almost doubled.
According to the testers, this is presumably due to changed pressure properties at very high infill values. Due to the smaller distances between the infill lines, they cool down more slowly and can therefore fuse together better. This brings the material behavior closer to that of an isotropic material, which could explain the unexpectedly high strength values.
The test shows that even marginal increases in infill density have a major influence on the mechanical properties, particularly in the upper range. For applications where stability and resilience are paramount, it is therefore often worth making the leap to 90% or 100% infill. Even if this is associated with longer printing times.
Conversely, the test also shows that low infill values of 10-20% can often be sufficient for less stressed objects. This allows filament to be saved without too great a loss of strength. The results illustrate the importance of careful fine-tuning of the print settings in order to achieve the optimum properties for different applications.
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