Data Structures and Algorithms

Route Planning Algorithms for Efficient 3D Printing

Authors: Shulang Lei
Comments: 148 Pages.

General 3D printers use Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Stereolithography (SLA) technologies to print 3D models. However, turning the nozzle on and off during FDM or SLA extruding will cause unwanted results. This project created an experimental 3D model slicer named Embodier that generates continuous extruding paths whenever possible. This enables 3D printers to draw out the printing layers accurately in a stable manner. Furthermore, the slicer partitions the outlines to tree structures for efficiency and applies flooding algorithm for water-tightness validation. Lastly, a 3D printing simulator is also created to visualize the printed paths in 3D for a more intuitive review of the Embodier slicer. The end result is that we have discovered that not only a single continuous-extruded-path slicer is possible, it can also be optimized for performance and robustness in practice.
Category: Data Structures and Algorithms