Infill overlap refers to the percentage that the infill will overlap onto the outer shell layers in 3D printing. It’s a crucial parameter to ensure the strength and durability of the printed object.
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How To Manage Infill Overlap Correctly:
If you set a high infill overlap, the infill will extrude further into the perimeter layers, creating a stronger bond between the infill and the shell. However, too much overlap can cause problems like over-extrusion, where too much material is deposited, leading to a messy print.
On the other hand, if the infill overlap is too low, the infill might not bond well with the outer layers, leading to gaps and a weak print.
So, it’s all about finding a balance. Typically, an infill overlap of 10-30% is recommended, but this can vary based on the specific requirements of the 3D print.
Remember, the goal is to ensure a strong bond between the infill and the outer layers without compromising the quality of the print.
Infill Overlap Setting in 3D Slicer Cura:
Follow the simple steps to make changes to infill overlap settings. If Infill overlap settings is not showing in your Cura slicer, don’t worry. I will help you enable it too.
1. Open your 3D slicer, in my case I am using the Cura slicer
2. Now open any STL file in 3D slicer and select it
3. On the right side you will see print settings. Click on it and look for Infill settings.
4. Inside infill settings you will see Infill Overlap. If you don’t see just click on the gear settings icon and enable it. Take the help of below image.
5. Now set the Infill Overlap percentage and Infill Overlap according to your requirements. The default Cura provided is 10% and 0.04mm. It’s done.
How To Fix Infill Overlap Issue:
Infill overlap refers to the percentage of overlap between the infill and the outer layers of a 3D print. If the overlap is too high, it can cause bulging or over-extrusion resulting in messy print. If it’s too low, it can lead to gaps between the infill and the outer layers.
So first, you need to identify if you have an infill overlap issue. Signs of this can include gaps between the infill and the outer layers, or bulging and over-extrusion on the sides of your print.
If you have any one of the above cases, just adjust your infill overlap accordingly and make sure to check the result in the preview section of your 3D slicer. You don’t really need to print the object to test your Infill Overlap.
If you’re seeing gaps in your 3D print, try increasing the infill overlap. If you’re seeing bulging, try decreasing it. I already covered in the previous section of this post how you can make changes to infill overlap in your 3D slicer.
After adjusting your settings, do a test print to see if the issue has been resolved. It may take a few tries to find the right balance. Keep adjusting your settings and testing until you get the desired result.
If adjusting the infill overlap doesn’t solve the problem, there may be other issues. These could include incorrect print speed, temperature settings, or issues with the filament itself.
