The influence of infill density on the mechanical properties of PLA samples in FDM 3D printing

Abstract This study investigates the impact of infill density on the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) samples in fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing. By designing and printing PLA samples with various infill densities and conducting tensile, bending, and compression tests, the relationship between infill density and mechanical properties was systematically analyzed. The results indicate that infill density significantly affects the mechanical properties of PLA samples, with strength, stiffness, and toughness increasing as infill density rises. However, excessively high infill density leads to material waste and extended printing time. This research provides a theoretical basis for optimizing FDM 3D printing process parameters and offers important guidance for material selection and structural design in practical applications.