[ADDED] Multiple Infills Per Layer

[BaronWilliams]

I'd like to see it possible to put 2 or more types of infill per layer. Not just 1, as it currently is.

Currently, if I make a -45, +45 pattern of lines, this lays down a grid with -45 degree lines on the first layer, and then +45 degree lines on the next layer. The following layers repeat this alternating pattern. The resulting grid only connects on the Z axis where the two layers cross each other, which is a very small percent of the grid's plastic. Most of the grid lines are not touching previous layers. This causes very weak infill. This is a major gripe a lot of people have with Simplify3D.

If we could tell Simplify3D to lay down more than 1 infill pattern per layer, then we could make grids that are completely connected on the Z axis.

For example, if I make a -45, +45 pattern of lines, and tell Simplify3D to create 2 infill patterns per layer, this would lay down a grid with -45 degree lines on the first layer, and then +45 degree lines also on the first layer. The following layers would also have both patterns laid down on it. The resulting infill grid now completely connects on the Z axis, not just where the two layers cross each other. The infill pattern will be much stronger than the current infill option.

Sure, some extra plastic will be laid out at the cross points between the two infill patterns, but that doesn't matter in most cases. It's actually beneficial to the strength of the infill to do this. The only time it would matter that lines are crossed is when you're doing infill that's got no room for the extra plastic to be laid down, but we could always reduce the extrusion width of the infill to prevent excess infill from being laid down.

While this wouldn't be a perfect solution, it's an easy thing to add to Simplify3D. And will improve part strength tremendously. I can already sort of do this in Simplify3D by making 2 processes print the same object, one with -45 degree infill lines and the other with +45 degree infill lines. The problem doing this with 2 processes is that the model's non-infill area also gets printed twice per layer. The infill is so much stronger like this. I have tested it using 2 processes. But with the 2 process hack your model doesn't look good because of the model's non-infill portions getting doubled up during the print.

[bot]

I agree that this would be nice.

[S3D-Jason]

This feature was added in version 3.0. Just go to the Infill tab and enable the option called "print every infill angle on each layer". For example, this might print +45 and -45 degree infill angles on the same layer which can greatly improve strength.