Cura, a free slicing application for FDM 3D printing, is one of the most popular pieces of 3D printing software. Now maintained by UltiMaker, the slicer has over a million users, catering for most types of extrusion printers.
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Part of the reason for Cura's popularity is its range of printing parameters, from advanced travel settings like Z-hop to special printing modes for molds and spiralized outer contours. The slicing software also has a broad range of infill settings covering infill density, infill line direction, and infill pattern.[1]
This article looks at the 14 different standard infill patterns available in Cura (plus a handful of experimental patterns) as of , noting their advantages and disadvantages and suggesting when they might be used.
An FDM 3D printer works by extruding and depositing filament in successive layers until a solid 3D object has been built. However, most 3D printed parts aren't completely dense. Instead, their interior is usually a mixture of solid plastic and empty space.
The ratio of plastic to space is defined as a print's infill density: close to 0% means the part is mostly hollow, while close to 100% means it is mostly solid. Most prints are around 30'50% dense.
But the geometrical structure of the internal plastic is just as important as the density, and this is where infill pattern comes in. The inside of a print can be made up of lines, grids, triangles, and many other 2D or 3D patterns. Not only does the chosen pattern affect print times and material usage, it can also have a big impact on the printed part's strength, weight, and flexibility.
Recommended reading: Infill 3D printing: All you need to know
As of Spring , UltiMaker Cura lets users choose between 14 default infill patterns.[2] The most notable omission from the list is Honeycomb infill, which is available in Slic3r and other applications but has historically been unavailable to Cura users.
However, the CuraEngine Tiled Infill Generation plugin, launched by UltiMaker in November , introduces four extra infill patterns (including Honeycomb) as well as the potential to use custom patterns.
Strong 2D infill
Cura's Grid infill pattern is a strong 2D infill that creates a grid on each layer of the print. The Grid pattern resembles the Lines pattern, but there is a major difference: the Lines pattern only prints in one direction per layer, adding perpendicular lines in the subsequent layer, and so on. By contrast, each layer of the Grid pattern has lines going in two directions.
The Grid pattern is used on everyday prints that require a moderate amount of strength and is Cura's strongest infill pattern in the vertical direction.
3D printed model with Grid infill pattern
Quick 2D infill
The Lines infill pattern is a fast-printing pattern that uses minimal material. It is suited to visual prints like decorative models.
Sometimes known as rectilinear infill, this pattern prints unidirectional lines on each layer, changing direction 90 degrees for the subsequent layer. This makes a kind of disconnected grid in which layers one, three, five, etc. have lines along one axis, while layers two, four, six, etc. have lines along the perpendicular axis.
Strong 2D infill
Cura users can select the Triangles infill pattern for everyday prints as an alternative to the Grid pattern. As its name suggests, the pattern is made up of triangles rather than the squares typical of a grid.
Shear-resistant and strong in every horizontal direction, its main drawback ' one shared with Grid ' is the interruption of flow at intersections.
The Cura Triangles infill pattern
Strong 2D infill
The Tri-hexagon infill pattern is suitable for everyday prints. Like the Triangles pattern, it uses three sets of parallel lines. However, these lines are slightly offset, so rather than creating a grid of equally sized triangles, they create a mix of small triangles and large hexagons.
In terms of forces applied in any horizontal direction, this shear-resistant infill pattern is the strongest available in Cura.
Strong 3D infill
Cura's Cubic infill pattern is made up of 3D cubes standing on a corner. This orientation prevents overhangs and results in fairly high strength in all directions. Furthermore, because each cube is enclosed, long pockets of hot air cannot form, which reduces undesirable pillowing of the top layer.
The Cubic pattern is suitable for everyday parts or functional parts which require strength along all axes.
Strong 3D infill
A 'smarter' version of Cubic, Cubic Subdivision is an algorithmically complex pattern designed to use less material and increase print speed while maintaining strength.
Cubic Subdivision features cubes of varying sizes, with the largest cubes (and consequently the least dense areas) placed at the center of the build. It is the best infill pattern for balancing strength with weight reduction and printing time. However, it can take a long time to slice.
Strong 3D infill
Cura's Octet infill pattern is made up of tetrahedrons (triangular pyramids) and cubes, creating a very strong internal frame where the edges of these shapes meet. It is particularly suited to thin mechanical parts.
Although boasting high strength, the Octet infill can produce relatively poor top surface quality. This is due to the long required bridging distance: the space that needs filling between solid infill material in order to add the solid shell around the part.
Strong 3D infill
The Quarter Cubic infill pattern comprises tetrahedrons and truncated tetrahedrons. Like the Octet infill pattern, it creates an internal frame to which loads can be dissipated.
It is ideal for very thin functional parts that require a high degree of strength, but top surface quality can suffer due to the long bridging distance.
Flexible 3D infill
Cura's Concentric infill pattern creates concentric rings that follow the shape of the outer walls. When printed at low infill density, it has very low strength in all directions and is therefore suitable for flexible parts, which are designed to bend. (A higher infill density will create a more rigid part.)
Conversely, this infill pattern actually produces the strongest prints at 100% infill, as the lines do not intersect and can evenly distribute loads.
Quick 2D infill
The Zig-zag infill pattern is similar to the Lines pattern, except the lines are joined up, as the nozzle turns and goes back on itself when it reaches an outer wall (rather than starting a new line). Zig-zag is fast and suitable for visual-only prints.
One potential advantage of Zig-zag over Lines is that the nozzle does not have to retract filament and travel. This reduces the chances of oozing, particularly with low-viscosity filaments like PETG, although it does use fractionally more material.
Flexible 2D infill
Designed for printing flexible filaments with a low infill percentage, the Cross infill pattern creates a pattern without any long straight horizontal lines. This produces a high level of flexibility across all horizontal directions, with a minimal amount of strength throughout.
The Cross pattern does not require retraction, which prevents oozing of flexible materials. However, a disadvantage of the 2D pattern ' for flexible parts, at least ' is its relatively high strength along the Z-axis, making it less flexible in the vertical direction.
Flexible 3D infill
The undesirable vertical strength of the Cross pattern is eliminated in the Cross 3D pattern ' with the caveat of longer slicing times. Cross 3D is weak (and therefore flexible) in all directions.
Cura's Cross 3D infill pattern is better than Cross or Concentric for part flexibility. Like Cross, it does not require retraction and is therefore resistant to oozing.
Strong 3D infill
The Cura Gyroid high-strength infill pattern creates wavy lines of alternating directions. It is shear-resistant and strong in all directions, but not stiff, making it suitable for some flexible materials (though its flexibility is lower than the three dedicated flexible infill patterns).
Many Cura users favor Gyroid for its aesthetics, especially with transparent filaments where the internal geometry is visible. However, Gyroid infill is algorithmically complex, so slicing the 3D model can be slow.
Recommended reading: Understanding the Gyroid Infill in 3D Printing
Quick experimental infill
The newest Cura infill pattern, released in December as part of Cura 4.12, is a kind of topology optimization tool that generates jagged internal support structures with the sole purpose of supporting the top of the build.
Lightning infill uses minimal material, resulting in faster and more lightweight prints. It is suitable for low-strength parts like visual prototypes.
New infill patterns available with the Tiled Infill Generation plugin (credit: UltiMaker)
In late , UltiMaker released the CuraEngine Tiled Infill Generation plugin, the work of contributor Jelle Spijker, which adds "new capabilities to the Infill section in UltiMaker Cura." The experimental plugin adds four ready-to-use infill patterns as well as the option to add custom infill patterns in the form of Well-Known Text (WKT) files.
This eponymous infill pattern demonstrates the new possibilities available through the plugin by using the Cura logo (the letter "C" within an off-kilter hexagon) as an infill pattern.
The evasively named Fill infill pattern uses concentric hexagons as infill.
The long-sought-after Honeycomb infill is now available through the Tiled Infill Generation plugin. It uses hexagons as the infill patterns.
This infill pattern resembles Honeycomb but allows the printhead to deposit material from one wall to another without stopping.
Since the release of the plugin, four further patterns developed by user Cuq have been added to the list:
Cura users have used the new plugin to demonstrate custom infill patterns such as this recognizable novelty design. This tutorial demonstrates how to make a WKT file for a custom infill. Alternatively, this online tool enables the quick conversion of SVG vector files into WKT files.
Infill patterns affect part strength because not all geometries are equally strong. A triangle, for instance, is more stable than a square, because it is the only rigid polygon: two sides always support the other.
The Triangles infill pattern provides strength and stiffness
A academic study measured the yield strength of printed PLA using Grid, Tri-hexagonal, and Concentric infill patterns. The researchers found Concentric to have the highest yield and ultimate strength at all densities, with Grid outperforming Tri-Hexagonal at 25% and 50% density and Tri-Hexagonal outperforming Grid at 75% density.[3]
In , another study carried out low-velocity impact testing and compression testing of 60% density PLA, using the Triangles, Grid, Quarter Cubic, and Tri-hexagon infill patterns. It found that Triangles exhibited the highest stiffness (668.82 N/mm) and could absorb the most energy in the impact testing, while Grid exhibited the highest compressive strength (72 MPa).[4]
Finding the right infill pattern for a build depends on the purpose of the 3D printed part, in addition to factors like material and part geometry. These are the best infill patterns for certain priorities:
Print speed: Zig-zag, Lines, Lightning
Least amount of filament: Lightning
Toughness: Gyroid
Stiffness: Tri-hexagon, Cubic
Strength by weight and printing time: Cubic Subdivision
Strength in vertical direction: Grid
Strength in horizontal directions: Tri-hexagon
Strength at 100% density: Concentric
Flexibility: Cross 3D
Top surface quality: Zig-zag, Grid
Cura's 14 default infill patterns provide users with a great deal of flexibility in terms of print speed, material usage, and fine-tuning the mechanical properties of a part. Fast, visual-only prints are suited to patterns like Zig-zag, functional parts are best served by 3D patterns like Cubic Subdivision, while flexible parts benefit from infill patterns such as Concentric.
What is the strongest Cura infill pattern?
The best Cura infill pattern for strength depends on the direction of the required strength. The Grid pattern provides excellent vertical strength (can resist forces from above), while the Tri-hexagon pattern provides excellent horizontal strength (can resist forces from the sides).
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What is the most flexible Cura infill pattern?
The most flexible Cura infill pattern is Cross 3D, making it a good choice for prints in flexible materials like TPU.
Why is there no Cura honeycomb or hexagon infill?
While honeycomb infill is available in other slicers like Slic3r and PrusaSlicer, it prints much more slowly than other patterns with similar mechanical performance, hence its omission from the main Cura list of patterns. However, the pattern is available through a plugin released in late .
Can I make my own Cura infill pattern?
Users can create their own Cura infill patterns in the Well-Known Text (WKT) format. Vector graphics can be converted into WKT files using this tool.
[1] Infill settings [Internet]. UltiMaker Support. UltiMaker; [cited Feb 23]. Available from: https://support.ultimaker.com/hc/en-us/articles/-Infill-settings
[2] Ghostkeeper. Settings Guide [Internet]. GitHub. [cited Feb 23]. Available from: https://github.com/Ghostkeeper/SettingsGuide/blob/master/resources/articles/infill/infill_pattern.md
[3] Rismalia M, Hidajat SC, Permana IGR, Hadisujoto B, Muslimin M, Triawan F. Infill pattern and density effects on the tensile properties of 3D printed PLA material. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. Dec;:.
[4] Aloyaydi B, Sivasankaran S, Mustafa A. Investigation of infill-patterns on mechanical response of 3D printed poly-lactic-acid. Polymer Testing. Jul;87:.
Before you send your design to your 3D printer and hit that 'Print' button, there is a crucial decision that you need to make: should the object be printed as hollow or solid? The decision of whether to print it as hollow or solid is usually affected by several factors. One of them is the purpose of the design you are creating. A hollow design is generally preferred if you want the object to be lightweight and not subject to much stress. It helps you also conserve materials and reduce production costs.
On the other hand, if you need it to be strong, a solid design is usually better. Additionally, the size of your material matters in determining how the internal structure should look like. If you want to save on the cost of the material, consider printing hollow instead of solid, as it uses less material.
To adjust the internal structure of your design to create a hollow or solid object, you need to change the infill settings, like the density. The infill density determines the percentage of the internal material used inside the model. It allows you to control the amount of infill used in the print, ranging from 0 to 100%. When you set the infill density to 0%, the 3D printer creates a hollow print with no internal structure. Setting it to 100% means that the entire internal space of the 3D model will be filled with material, and the object will be solid and stronger, though it will use a lot of material. In-between values will generate an internal lattice structure, partially filling the space within the model.
In addition to the infill density, there is also the infill pattern setting, which we shall look at in detail in this article, and it's one of the settings that determine the specific geometric arrangement of the material structure within the 3D-printed model. You adjust the infill settings of your designs in a slicer like Cura. We will use Cura to demonstrate this, as it's one of the most popular 3D slicing programs available. Like other 3D printer slicers, it offers various infill patterns, each with its characteristics, strengths, and applications.
After importing your designs into the software, you can access the infill pattern settings by clicking on Infill in the print settings.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The table below summarizes the infill patterns available in Cura and their functions.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
No.Infill PatternBest for1Grid infill patternCreating prototypes, small 3D prints, and generally fast prints2Lines patternPrototyping and simple 3D prints3Triangles PatternPrototyping and 3D prints that loads will be subjected perpendicular to the faces.4Tri-hexagon patternPrototyping and moderately strong parts5Cubic patternStrong, rigid, and functional parts6Cubic sub-divisionStrong and large 3D Prints that don't affect strength to weight ratio7Octet patternStrong and functional parts8Quarter CubicStrong and lightweight 3D prints9ConcentricFlexible 3D prints10Zig zagFast 3D Printing11CrossFlexible 3D prints that can withstand bending12Cross 3DFlexible and stiffer 3D prints13GyroidStrong and functional parts14LightningFast 3D printing and it is good for designs requiring Internal SupportsBelow is a detailed description of each of the above infill patterns.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The grid infill pattern forms intersecting lines running perpendicular to each other, forming a grid. The pattern resembles a grid, with horizontal and vertical lines forming a crisscross pattern within the space of the print.
This pattern offers moderate strength while using a relatively small amount of material. It is famous for many 3D printing applications, like creating functional prototypes and objects requiring mild mechanical stress, and it's suitable for faster 3D printing.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
Immediately after the grid pattern is the line infill. This pattern uses continuous lines that run in a single direction to fill the interior of a 3D-printed object. It is a good choice for rapid prototyping or parts with less critical interior strength.
It is moderately fast to print and it is a good choice for prints that do not need to be very strong. This pattern also helps avoid 3D printing pillowing, the problem where the top surfaces of your print appear uneven, giving them a pillow-like appearance. Because the lines in lines infill pattern are parallel, they distribute the weight and stress of the upper layers more evenly across the print's interior, preventing concentrated pressure points that can cause issues on the top layers.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The triangles pattern contains interconnected triangles or hexagons that create a honeycomb-like structure inside the model. This pattern offers excellent structural integrity as the interlocking triangles distribute forces more evenly throughout the interior of the print, enhancing its overall strength. It is also helpful in creating prototypes which forces will be subjected perpendicular to the faces.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
This is similar to a triangle infill pattern, but the difference is that It also contains hexagons. In this infill, the lines making up the triangles and hexagons run in three directions but don't meet in the same position. Like triangles, the tri-hexagon is helpful for creating prototypes and parts requiring moderate mechanical strength.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
It uses a combination of cubes that are stacked on top of each other. Cubic infill patterns are created by interweaving parallel lines at around 45-degree angles. The lines are spaced evenly apart and connected in a grid-like structure.
When you increase the line spacing by reducing the infill percentage, you can create lighter parts with less material, while decreasing the line spacing will make the design stronger and more rigid. Cubic infill patterns are perfect for creating functional parts that need to withstand stresses.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
Cubic sub-division pattern is similar to Cubic, but the difference is that the middle section of your 3D prints is hollow. Compared to Cubic, this pattern saves material and time to 3D print the model, and it is ideal for large-volume 3D prints as it helps to improve strength-to-weight ratios. This is because the cubes are dense enough to provide support and strength, and it is light enough not to add too much weight.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The Octet infill pattern has a cross-hatched pattern or interconnected octagons, creating a strong internal structure in the design. It is efficient with the amount of material used as there are spaces left on the design and the time it takes to print too. It is also great for 3D printing complex shapes, as you can adjust the infill to fit the object's shape.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The quarter cubic infill pattern contains small cubes and rectangular shapes arranged in a grid, allowing for a higher density of material and better mechanical properties. It is excellent for parts that need to be strong and lightweight at the same time. Since the pattern comprises small cubes, it offers a high density and a uniform structure. The arrangement of the cubes in a grid-like manner makes the print look more aesthetically pleasing.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
This pattern is generated by a series of concentric circles that radiate outward from the center of each layer. It creates a distinctive visual appearance on the inside of the print and offers some unique characteristics. The infill percentage determines the size of the spaces in the circles. If it's higher, the spaces will be smaller, and when lower, the spacing will be larger.
Concentric pattern is great for 3D printing flexible 3D prints. It's also suitable for prints where the internal structure doesn't need to bear significant loads or mechanical stress. The arrangement of concentric circles creates an interesting visual effect that can be visible through translucent or semi-transparent materials, and this can add a decorative touch to your 3D prints.
Because the pattern generally involves a continuous movement in a circular direction, it prints at a faster speed when compared to those that require frequent changes in direction, such as triangular or grid patterns.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
This pattern is almost similar to the line pattern but differs by having alternating lines that move in opposite directions, resulting in a zigzag pattern. While not the strongest infill pattern available, it still provides decent support for the interior of the print. The diagonal lines intersecting with each other offer some reinforcement. It is ideal for simple designs that need to be printed faster.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
This pattern contains crossing lines that create a grid of crosses. It is not as strong as some other infill patterns, but it is flexible and can withstand much bending due to the spaces between the grid and the crosses. It's ideal for prints that need to be able to bend or flex, like cases. It's also applicable for decorative objects to add a touch of style.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
This is similar to the cross pattern, but as the name suggests, it's a 3D version containing a 3D grid of interconnected crosses within the object's interior. This is great for flexible parts but stiffer than the ones created in the cross pattern when you use the same infill percentage. It's also great when you are making 3D printing time-lapses.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The gyroid infill pattern has a continuous lattice that seems to twist and weave, creating an almost organic-looking structure. It resembles an intricate maze of interconnected curves, creating a captivating contrast to the solid exterior of the print, and these interconnections distribute forces evenly.
When you use a higher infill density, it will result in a more solid-looking interior. A lower density will retain the lattice structure but with more pronounced gaps between the elements. The gyroid pattern helps create functional parts that will be subjected to stress. If you want to make time lapses, you can use this pattern, too, as it can add a sense of movement to the video, as the pattern constantly changes within the frame. It can also make them look much more visually attractive than using other infill patterns.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The lightning infill pattern is more of an internal support structure than an infill. Some 3D prints, like ornaments, require internal supports to support the overhangs, and lightning-infill patterns are the best. Its primary purpose is to provide structural reinforcement in the critical areas of your 3D print, ensuring that your prints maintain their integrity during printing. It consumes less material the print time is faster too.
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