LITERATURE REVIEW

The advancement in the field of 3D printing has made it possible to use more than one material
while printing a part (also known as Multi-material 3D printing). In addition to the ease of
generating complex parts and improving aesthetics, it also enhances the mechanical properties.
The future of 3D printing in medical field would make it possible to create 3D models of
medical scans and while helping in diagnosis it would also reduce the complications during
surgery. AM is also expected to revolutionize prosthetics, bionics and orthotics and make them
more cost effective. [1]

Many AM process including FDM have several process parameters which have a significant
impact on the part produced and its properties. Some of the most common parameters are build
orientation, extrusion temperature, infill density, infill pattern, print speed etc. This report will
mainly focus on two such parameter i.e. infill density and infill pattern.[2]

Infill density – The outer layers of the 3D printed objects are solid. However, the internal
structure, commonly known as infill, is an invisible inner part covered by the outer layers, and
it has different shapes, size ad patterns. Infill density is the percentage of infill volume with
filament material.[2]

Increasing infill density with Square pattern

 Increasing infill density with Hexagonal pattern

Increasing infill density with triangular pattern

The primary reason for varying the infill density of a 3D printed part is to make it lighter in
weight. Also for the same infill density, varying the cellular structure or pattern will also lead
to different mechanical properties.

Lightweight high-performance materials are desired in many applications like automobile,

aerospace, medical etc. They can be successfully utilized in sandwich panels, energy absorbing
and heat transfer devices. By using cellular materials with regular and periodic microstructure,
the weight reduction can be easily accomplished.[3]
Conventional methods of manufacturing these cellular structures are very time consuming and
expensive and thus prevent their use for several applications. AM provides greater flexibility
in controlling shape and configuration of microstructure than conventional fabrication
methods. Thus far, very little attention has been given to mechanical properties of cellular parts
fabricated by using an infill pattern.[3]

Infill pattern – Different infill patterns are used in parts to produce a strong and durable
internal structure. Rectilinear, triangular, hexagonal, honeycomb are some commonly used
infill patterns.[2]

Various infill patterns

REFERENCES

[1] https://doi.org/10.1504/IJRAPIDM.2015.074809

[2] https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp3030064

[3] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2018.09.017