Infill patterns: gyroid, grid and when it matters
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Gyroid at 15-20 percent is the sensible default for functional parts — strong in all directions and it never crosses itself. Grid is faster to print. Below about 25 percent the difference in strength between patterns is small.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Gyroid | isotropic strength, no self-crossing, moderate speed |
| Grid | fast, strong in two axes, nozzle crosses printed lines |
| Cubic | good all-round strength, slower than grid |
| Lightning | minimal material, supports top surfaces only |
| Honeycomb | strong, slow to print |
| Concentric | flexible parts and TPU |
Why gyroid gets recommended so often
Grid patterns cross over previously printed lines at every intersection, which the nozzle then drags through. Gyroid is a continuous curved surface that never intersects itself, so there is nothing to collide with, and it carries load roughly equally in all three axes.
Density does more than pattern
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Display model | 5-10 percent, lightning or gyroid |
| General functional part | 15-20 percent gyroid |
| Load bearing | 30-40 percent gyroid or cubic |
| Threaded or drilled | 50 percent or higher locally |
| Flexible TPU part | 5-15 percent concentric |
Walls matter more than infill
For most loading cases, adding a perimeter does more for strength than raising infill by ten per cent, and costs less material and time. If a part is failing under load, increase wall loops from two to three or four before you touch infill.
Lightning infill
Lightning generates a branching structure that only supports the top surfaces and leaves the rest hollow. For display models and prototypes it saves a great deal of material and time. It contributes almost nothing to strength, so do not use it on anything that gets loaded.
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