The Full Story
HOW DOES 3D PRINTING ACTUALLY WORK
Is 3D printing as strong as traditionally manufactured parts? How are these parts so light and still strong enough to use outdoors?
Introduction
Those are all great questions and while 3D printing is becoming more mainstream and something that more people have access to, designing parts that are intended to be 3D printed require a deeper understanding of how the process works.
It is like a bridge
Bridges have a very similar structure as a 3D printed part. The perimeter of the bridge (roadway and exterior supports) are the same as the perimeter of a printed part. Just as a bridge has a smaller structure tying the perimeter together so does a 3D printed part having what is called "infill". This is basically a webbing that ties the outer shape together.
A designer is able to tune the strength and flexibility properties of a part by tuning the thickness of perimeter and amount of infill.
