Additive Manufacturing Slicing for Independent Multi-Object Rebuilds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current additive manufacturing software is inefficient due to lengthy slicing operations, lack of intuitive interfaces for managing multiple objects, and the need to re-slice entire builds when changes are made, leading to significant delays and potential missed support regions.
Innovation Solution
A processing unit that allows independent slicing and scan parameter operations for each object within a common build volume, enabling users to modify objects without re-slicing all objects, and decoupling slicing and scan parameter determination for supports and objects, allowing for more flexible and time-efficient design processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If slicing operation is performed on multiple objects together, then processing time is reduced, but it becomes impossible to modify individual objects without re-slicing all objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the build volume into multiple independent object containers, each maintaining its own slicing data. This allows individual objects to be modified and re-sliced independently while other objects retain their pre-computed slicing information, resolving the contradiction between batch processing efficiency and individual object adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If slicing operation is performed on individual objects separately, then flexibility to modify objects is maintained, but total processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary slicing operations on all objects and stores the results. When an object needs modification, only that specific object is re-sliced while leveraging the pre-computed slicing data of other objects, thus maintaining flexibility without incurring the full processing time cost of complete re-slicing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If all objects are re-sliced when one object is modified, then data consistency is maintained, but significant time delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation of slicing data by object, allowing independent modification and re-slicing of individual objects without affecting the slicing data of other objects. This maintains data consistency for modified objects while avoiding unnecessary re-processing of unchanged objects, significantly reducing time delays.
4Reliability
If supports are automatically generated for all objects, then support coverage is maximized, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by generating supports based on individual object characteristics and requirements rather than applying a uniform support generation process to all objects. This allows supports to be optimized for each specific object's geometry and build requirements, maximizing support coverage while managing processing complexity through targeted rather than blanket processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and methods for generating geometric data for use in an additive manufacturing process. The apparatus includes a processing unit. The processing unit may be arranged for receiving data defining surface geometry of a plurality of objects to be built together in an additive manufacturing process, providing a user interface that allows a user to define a location of each object within a common build volume and carrying out a slicing operation on at least one of the objects located in the common build volume independently from another one of objects located in the common build volume. The slicing operation determines sections of the at least one object to be built in the additive manufacturing process. In one embodiment, the objects are defined in a hierarchical data structure. Supports for supporting the objects during the build may be defined with reference to a 2-dimensional support cross-section.