Close



Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 17
  1. #1

    Does Layer Height effect print strength?

    This is a question that I can't seem to find anywhere. Does layer height effect the sturdiness of a print? I would imagine it has too, but in which direction does it go? Would a higher or lower layer height make the print stronger? Would a print with layers at 0.15mm be stronger or weaker than one with a layer height of 0.3mm?
    Anyone ever test this, or have an answer?

  2. #2
    Super Moderator DrLuigi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    502
    I did once use a stretch test of a piece of about 0.1 and 0.25, It was hardly any diffrence,

    I doubt it would make a diffrence when we are talking about 0.5 or 0.25.

  3. #3
    Super Moderator RobH2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Baltimore, MD
    Posts
    899
    Add RobH2 on Thingiverse
    One thing I have noticed is that on some prints with higher layers I sometimes don't get as good adhesion as ones with thinner layers. I think with the thinner layers each one may get pushed into the subsequent one better. For instance, I printed a conical part about the size of a D battery. It was about 4" tall and I used .25 as the layer height. I flexed it just a bit to test it and it split between layers. So I reprinted it a .18 and when I tested it, it was really tight. I even bent it pretty firmly and it did not separate.

    I'm not sure if my printer was malfunctioning or it it's just the nature of layer heights in general, but from my experience, I don't trust the integrity of prints with thicker layers as much as I do those with thinner ones.
    Bambu P1S/AMS
    NVision4D http://nvision4d.com

  4. #4
    Technologist MeoWorks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Sacramento, CA
    Posts
    173
    Quote Originally Posted by RobH2 View Post
    One thing I have noticed is that on some prints with higher layers I sometimes don't get as good adhesion as ones with thinner layers. I think with the thinner layers each one may get pushed into the subsequent one better. For instance, I printed a conical part about the size of a D battery. It was about 4" tall and I used .25 as the layer height. I flexed it just a bit to test it and it split between layers. So I reprinted it a .18 and when I tested it, it was really tight. I even bent it pretty firmly and it did not separate.

    I'm not sure if my printer was malfunctioning or it it's just the nature of layer heights in general, but from my experience, I don't trust the integrity of prints with thicker layers as much as I do those with thinner ones.
    Same experience here, my sturdier prints are all 0.1mm or lower. I do think parameter (shell thickness) plays a bigger role though.

  5. #5
    Super Moderator Geoff's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    NSW, Australia
    Posts
    1,824
    Add Geoff on Thingiverse
    Quote Originally Posted by MeoWorks View Post
    Same experience here, my sturdier prints are all 0.1mm or lower. I do think parameter (shell thickness) plays a bigger role though.
    Definitely shells. All my quadcopters require 20%infill minimum and 2-3 shells for rigidity. Layer height makes very little difference, but it depends on your force distribution. For a quadcotper arm, I print them flat - so the layers run horizontally, or the same way it's going to sit on the quad. If I was to print them standing up, as in long and tall... they would print layer by layer in the wrong direction...

    hard to explain, but print out a small tube. Print one out standing up and the other lying down flat.

    The one standing up straight will be more round and look better, but the one you printed laying down witll be 10x stronger to flex and wont snap.

    Look at the two pictures. See the cylinder standing up is built with small cricles - these are ok but not as strong as picture 2, where it's layed down in long strips - this is much much more rigid.
    basnap.JPGnosnap.JPG

  6. #6
    Technician
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Posts
    51
    I haven't done any 'official' tests, but from my experience, the smaller the layers the stronger it is. However, it would also probably depend on the material used. I'm talking about PLA here.

  7. #7
    Layer height really doesn't effect the strength in any noticeable way. However I'm assuming there are some small differences. I've never used shell infill. I'll have to try this. Do shells work better than honey comb?

  8. #8
    Staff Engineer Davo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    1,085
    Follow Davo On Twitter Add Davo on Facebook Add Davo on Google+ Add Davo on Shapeways Add Davo on Thingiverse
    We like 3-4 shells with a 25-35% rectilinear infill at a 45 degrees for our printed parts; 2-3 solid layers at top and bottom.

  9. #9
    Super Moderator RobH2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Baltimore, MD
    Posts
    899
    Add RobH2 on Thingiverse
    Quote Originally Posted by trimmedup View Post
    Layer height really doesn't effect the strength in any noticeable way. However I'm assuming there are some small differences. I've never used shell infill. I'll have to try this. Do shells work better than honey comb?
    I haven't done any scientific experiments either but I've definitely experienced weaker parts with higher layer heights. I've reprinted a number of parts with thinner layers and they are much stronger. They don't suffer layer separation like the higher layer versions have. Again, this is just my experience as I've done no scientific stress tests.
    Bambu P1S/AMS
    NVision4D http://nvision4d.com

  10. #10
    Student
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Gothenburg
    Posts
    2
    Add Frans on Thingiverse

    Duraprint project

    Hi 3D Print Board!

    I did a master thesis project about 3D printing and durability, including how layer height affects strength. I thought you may find my results interesting! I also researched and tested mechanical properties of FFF 3D-printed PLA, ABS, PET and three Taulman nylon filaments as well as other factors affecting layer bonding performance.

    I will attach the major findings and data as pictures in this post, but be sure to check out the full report for further information about the tests, Google Drive PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxo...JWR2lHcFU/view










    Feel free to ask any questions about the project. Hopefully this could come in handy for you 3D printing entusiasts!



    Edit: Thanks for the kind feedback! I don't seem to be able to make new posts for some reason.
    Last edited by Frans; 08-11-2016 at 10:58 AM.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •