Additive Manufacturing Path Connection for Fewer Start-Stop Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
In additive manufacturing, the increasing number of manufacturing paths leads to higher frequency of stopping, reducing productivity. As the object shape becomes more complex, it is challenging to uniformly reduce the number of paths without significant changes to the original paths.
Innovation Solution
A control information generating device and method that repeatedly forms bead layers by connecting adjacent manufacturing paths at specified connection positions, reducing the number of paths until it reaches a predetermined upper limit, and outputs the connected path information as control information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the number of manufacturing paths is increased to cover complex shapes, then the coverage of manufacturing areas is improved, but the number of start parts and end parts increases leading to more frequent stopping and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple separate manufacturing paths by adding connection paths between their end parts and start parts. This combines multiple independent paths into fewer continuous paths, reducing the total number of start and end parts while maintaining complete coverage of the manufacturing area.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary planning to add connection paths between manufacturing paths before actual manufacturing begins. By pre-establishing these connections in the path design phase, the system prepares continuous manufacturing routes that eliminate frequent stopping during the manufacturing process.
2Productivity
If the number of manufacturing paths is reduced to improve productivity, then the number of start parts and end parts decreases, but it becomes difficult to uniformly reduce paths when the object shape is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses feedback mechanisms where the system evaluates the current state of manufacturing paths, identifies suitable connection opportunities between paths, and iteratively adds connection paths. This feedback loop continues until the desired reduction in path count is achieved, providing a systematic approach to handling complex shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transforms the static manufacturing path design into a dynamic process by iteratively adding connection paths. The system adaptively modifies the path configuration based on the complex geometry, continuously optimizing the balance between path count and shape coverage rather than relying on fixed predetermined paths.
3Productivity
If connection paths are added between manufacturing paths, then the number of manufacturing paths is reduced and productivity improves, but the total path length may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of path continuity by transforming multiple short separate paths into fewer longer continuous paths. By modifying the path structure parameter from discontinuous to continuous through added connections, the system reduces the number of start-stop operations, improving productivity despite the increase in total travel distance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control information generating device includes: a manufacturing information acquisition unit configured to acquire information on manufacturing paths; a connection position specifying unit configured to specify, from the acquired information on the manufacturing paths, connection positions at which a pair of manufacturing paths arranged adjacent to each other and having continuous formation order are connected to each other; a path connection unit configured to newly add a connection path that connects the pair of manufacturing paths to each other at the connection positions, and connect the pair of manufacturing paths to each other; and a control information output unit configured to repeat connection between the manufacturing paths until the number of the manufacturing paths becomes equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit, and output the information on the connected manufacturing paths as the control information.