Skip to content

strength_settings_patterns

Jump to bottom
SoftFever edited this page Sep 9, 2025 · 2 revisions

Patterns

Patterns determine how material is distributed within a print. Different patterns can affect strength, flexibility and print speed using the same density setting.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, as the best pattern depends on the specific print and its requirements.

Many patterns may look similar and have similar overall specifications, but they can behave very differently in practice.
As most settings in 3D printing, experience is the best way to determine which pattern works best for your specific needs.

Patterns Quick Reference

Pattern Applies to X-Y Strength Z Strength Material Usage Print Time
param_monotonic Monotonic - Solid Infill - Surface Normal Normal Normal-High Normal-Low
param_monotonicline Monotonic line - Solid Infill - Surface Normal Normal Normal Normal
param_rectilinear Rectilinear - Sparse Infill - Solid Infill - Surface - Ironing Normal-Low Low Normal Normal-Low
param_alignedrectilinear Aligned Rectilinear - Sparse Infill - Solid Infill - Surface Normal-Low Normal Normal Normal-Low
param_zigzag Zig Zag - Sparse Infill Normal-Low Low Normal Normal-Low
param_crosszag Cross Zag - Sparse Infill Normal Low Normal Normal-Low
param_lockedzag Locked Zag - Sparse Infill Normal-Low Normal-Low Low Extra-High
param_line Line - Sparse Infill Low Low Normal-High Normal-Low
param_grid Grid - Sparse Infill High High Normal-High Normal-Low
param_triangles Triangles - Sparse Infill High Normal Normal-High Normal-Low
param_tri-hexagon Tri-hexagon - Sparse Infill High Normal-High Normal-High Normal-Low
param_cubic Cubic - Sparse Infill High High Normal-High Normal-Low
param_adaptivecubic Adaptive Cubic - Sparse Infill Normal-High Normal-High Normal Low
param_quartercubic Quarter Cubic - Sparse Infill High High Normal-High Normal-Low
param_supportcubic Support Cubic - Sparse Infill Low Low Normal Extra-Low
param_lightning Lightning - Sparse Infill Low Low Low Ultra-Low
param_honeycomb Honeycomb - Sparse Infill High High Low Ultra-High
param_3dhoneycomb 3D Honeycomb - Sparse Infill Normal-High Normal-High Low High
param_lateral-honeycomb Lateral Honeycomb - Sparse Infill Normal-Low Normal-Low Normal-High Normal-Low
param_lateral-lattice Lateral Lattice - Sparse Infill Normal-Low Low Normal-High Normal-Low
param_crosshatch Cross Hatch - Sparse Infill Normal-High Normal-High Normal-Low Normal-High
param_tpmsd TPMS-D - Sparse Infill High High Normal-Low High
param_tpmsfk TPMS-FK - Sparse Infill Normal-High Normal-High Low High
param_gyroid Gyroid - Sparse Infill High High Normal-Low Normal-High
param_concentric Concentric - Sparse Infill - Solid Infill - Surface - Ironing Low Normal Normal-High Normal-Low
param_hilbertcurve Hilbert Curve - Sparse Infill - Solid Infill - Surface Low Normal Low High
param_archimedeanchords Archimedean Chords - Sparse Infill - Solid Infill - Surface Low Normal Normal-High Normal-Low
param_octagramspiral Octagram Spiral - Sparse Infill - Solid Infill - Surface Low Normal Normal-Low Normal

Note

You can download infill_desc_calculator.xlsx used to calculate the values above.

Monotonic

Rectilinear in a uniform direction for a smoother visual surface.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-monotonic

Monotonic line

Monotonic but avoids overlapping with the perimeter, reducing excess material at joints. May introduce visible seams and increase print time.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal
  • Applies to:

infill-top-monotonic-line

Rectilinear

Parallel lines spaced according to infill density. Each layer is printed perpendicular to the previous, resulting in low vertical bonding. Consider using new Zig Zag infill instead.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal-Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Low
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal
  • Applies to:

infill-top-rectilinear

Aligned Rectilinear

Parallel lines spaced by the infill spacing, each layer printed in the same direction as the previous layer. Good horizontal strength perpendicular to the lines, but terrible in parallel direction. Recommended with layer anchoring to improve not perpendicular strength.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal-Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal
  • Applies to:

infill-top-aligned-rectilinear

Zig Zag

Similar to rectilinear with consistent pattern between layers. Allows you to add a Symmetric infill Y axis for models with two symmetric parts.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal-Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Low
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal
  • Applies to:

infill-top-zig-zag

Cross Zag

Similar to Zig Zag but displacing each layer with Infill shift step parameter.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Low
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal
  • Applies to:

infill-top-cross-zag

Locked Zag

Adaptive version of Zig Zag adding an external skin texture to interlock layers and a low material skeleton.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal-Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal-Low
  • Density Calculation: Same as Zig Zag but increasing near walls
  • Material Usage: Normal-High
  • Print Time: Extra-High
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Low
  • Applies to:

infill-top-locked-zag

Line

Similar to rectilinear, but each line is slightly rotated to improve print speed.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Low
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-line

Grid

Two-layer pattern of perpendicular lines, forming a grid. Overlapping points may cause noise or artifacts.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): High
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-grid

Triangles

Triangle-based grid, offering strong X-Y strength but with triple overlaps at intersections.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-triangles

Tri-hexagon

Similar to the triangles pattern but offset to prevent triple overlaps at intersections. This design combines triangles and hexagons, providing excellent X-Y strength.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal-High
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-tri-hexagon

Cubic

3D cube pattern with corners facing down, distributing force in all directions. Triangles in the horizontal plane provide good X-Y strength.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): High
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-cubic

Adaptive Cubic

Cubic pattern with adaptive density: denser near walls, sparser in the center. Saves material and time while maintaining strength, ideal for large prints.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal-High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal-High
  • Density Calculation: Same as Cubic but reduced in the center
  • Material Usage: Low
  • Print Time: Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal
  • Applies to:

infill-top-adaptive-cubic

Quarter Cubic

Cubic pattern with extra internal divisions, improving X-Y strength.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): High
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-quarter-cubic

Support Cubic

Support |Cubic is a variation of the Cubic infill pattern that is specifically designed for support top layers. Will use more material than Lightning infill but will provide better strength. Nevertheless, it is still a low-density infill pattern.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Low
  • Density Calculation: % of layer before top shell layers
  • Material Usage: Extra-Low
  • Print Time: Extra-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal
  • Applies to:

infill-top-support-cubic

Lightning

Ultra-fast, ultra-low material infill. Designed for speed and efficiency, ideal for quick prints or non-structural prototypes.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Low
  • Density Calculation: % of layer before top shell layers
  • Material Usage: Ultra-Low
  • Print Time: Ultra-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Low
  • Applies to:

infill-top-lightning

Honeycomb

Hexagonal pattern balancing strength and material use. Double walls in each hexagon increase material consumption.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): High
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: High
  • Print Time: Ultra-High
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Low
  • Applies to:

infill-top-honeycomb

3D Honeycomb

This infill tries to generate a printable honeycomb structure by printing squares and octagons maintaining a vertical angle high enough to maintain contact with the previous layer.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal-High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal-High
  • Density Calculation: Unknown
  • Material Usage: Normal-Low
  • Print Time: High
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Low
  • Applies to:

infill-top-3d-honeycomb

Lateral Honeycomb

Vertical Honeycomb pattern. Acceptable torsional stiffness. Developed for low densities structures like wings. Improve over Lateral Lattice offers same performance with lower densities.This infill includes a Overhang angle parameter to improve the point of contact between layers and reduce the risk of delamination.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal-Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal-Low
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-lateral-honeycomb

Lateral Lattice

Low-strength pattern with good flexibility. You can adjust Angle 1 and Angle 2 to optimize the infill for your specific model. Each angle adjusts the plane of each layer generated by the pattern. 0° is vertical.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal-Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Low
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-lateral-lattice

Cross Hatch

Similar to Gyroid but with linear patterns, creating weak points at internal corners. Easier to slice but consider using TPMS-D or Gyroid for better strength and flexibility.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal-High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal-High
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-High
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-Low
  • Applies to:

infill-top-cross-hatch

TPMS-D

Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (Schwarz Diamond). Hybrid between Cross Hatch and Gyroid, combining rigidity and smooth transitions. Isotropic and strong in all directions. This geometry is faster to slice than Gyroid, but slower than Cross Hatch.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): High
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: High
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-Low
  • Applies to:

infill-top-tpms-d

TPMS-FK

Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (Fischer–Koch S) pattern. Its smooth, continuous geometry resembles trabecular bone microstructure, offering a balance between rigidity and energy absorption. Compared to TPMS-D, it has more complex curvature, which can improve load distribution and shock absorption in functional parts.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Normal-High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal-High
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: High
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Low
  • Applies to:

infill-top-tpms-fk

Gyroid

Mathematical, isotropic surface providing equal strength in all directions. Excellent for strong, flexible prints and resin filling due to its interconnected structure. This pattern may require more time to slice because of all the points needed to generate each curve. If your model has complex geometry, consider using a simpler infill pattern like TPMS-D or Cross Hatch.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): High
  • Vertical Strength (Z): High
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-High
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-Low
  • Applies to:

infill-top-gyroid

Concentric

Fills the area with progressively smaller versions of the outer contour, creating a concentric pattern. Ideal for 100% infill or flexible prints.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-concentric

Hilbert Curve

Hilbert Curve is a space-filling curve that can be used to create a continuous infill pattern. It is known for its Aesthetic appeal and ability to fill space efficiently. Print speed is very low due to the complexity of the path, which can lead to longer print times. It is not recommended for structural parts but can be used for Aesthetic purposes.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: High
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Low
  • Applies to:

infill-top-hilbert-curve

Archimedean Chords

Spiral pattern that fills the area with concentric arcs, creating a smooth and continuous infill. Can be filled with resin thanks to its interconnected hollow structure, which allows the resin to flow through it and cure properly.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal-Low
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-High
  • Applies to:

infill-top-archimedean-chords

Octagram Spiral

Aesthetic pattern with low strength and high print time.

  • Horizontal Strength (X-Y): Low
  • Vertical Strength (Z): Normal
  • Density Calculation: % of total infill volume
  • Material Usage: Normal
  • Print Time: Normal
  • Material/Time (Higher better): Normal-Low
  • Applies to:

infill-top-octagram-spiral

Clone this wiki locally