One of the many benefits of using a grayscale printhead is the ability to produce shell and lattice infills. Both of these features can provide improvements to the strength and durability of the printed object, each in a different way.

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Shell makes the exterior surface stronger by using larger drops in the outer boundaries of the object. Larger drops equates to higher density and/or a stronger binding of the sand or powder being printed on. You might ask "why not just use larger drops in the entire volume of the object?"  Too much fluid applied to each layer can cause uneven drying resulting in sacrificed structural strength. 

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There are other practical reasons for using the shell feature. Using less fluid will save money, and the part will dry faster too. Having a stronger shell also helps during the de-powdering process to protect the objects surface from damage.

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Example of slice with perimeter shell

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Lattice Infill makes the interior of the object stronger. Similar to how corrugation layers make cardboard boxes stronger, using vertical walls made of larger drop sizes will make the entire object stronger, lighter, and will speed the drying process as well. Met3D currently offers two lattice patterns with several variations in lattice structure. 

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Shell and Lattice Infill can be used together or independently. Together they can deliver stronger, lighter, faster drying objects. Since using these features will require less raw material (binder fluid) there will be a cost savings as well.

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Met3D offers control over these parameters for Shell and Lattice Infill: 

     ◾ Shell Thickness

     ◾ Infill Density

     ◾ Lattice Pattern Choice

     ◾ Lattice Pattern Cell Size

     ◾ Lattice Wall Thickness

     ◾ Lattice Infill Density

     ◾ Lattice Wall Density

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The graphic below identifies the areas of variability:

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