How does thickening the walls of a part influence its performance?

Thickening the walls of a part can indeed enhance its strength by providing additional material to withstand stress and pressure. This can be particularly beneficial in applications where durability and load-bearing capability are crucial, as thicker walls help prevent structural failures under extreme conditions.

However, increasing the thickness of the walls usually also leads to an increase in weight. This can be a disadvantage in applications where weight reduction is important, such as in automotive or aerospace components where every ounce counts towards fuel efficiency and performance.

Additionally, thicker walls can lead to higher production costs due to increased material usage and potentially higher machining and processing time. As such, while there are benefits in terms of strength, the trade-offs of increased weight and costs must be carefully considered in the design process.