Study of infill print parameters on mechanical strength and production cost-time of 3D printed ABS parts

The ever-growing adoption of Additive Manufacturing (AM) can be attributed to lowering prices of entry-level extrusion-based 3D Printers. It has enabled using AM for mainstream DIY, STEM education, prototypes and often, to produce custom complex commercial products. With the growing number of available printers and newer materials, the influence of print parameters specifically infill patterns on the mechanical strength and print costs need to be investigated. This study presents the correlation of infill pattern selection and several mechanical properties along with final part cost and production time. Infill with varying design parameters are analyzed with respect to mechanical properties determined using ASTM standards, fabrication cost and time. Relevant applications are presented for all the varied infill designs. Findings from this study will help formulate criteria for relevant economically sound infill design pattern for real world applications.