Shifting Layer Heights for Closed-Loop Contours in Additive Manufacturing

Alex Roschli, Isha Bhandari, Michael Borish, Cameron Adkins, Liam White

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Traditional slicing for 3D printing involves a planar cross-sectioning process to create layers. These layers are stacked one on top of the next representing a butt-joint, which is typically the weakest direction for loading a 3D printed part. Because the layers are printed sequentially, no material or reinforcement connects from one layer to the next. This clean layer line between layers is easy to break or separate. To fix this, the authors have implemented a new approach to shift the height of every other closed-loop contour toolpath such that a clean layer line no longer exists. This bead shifting approach involves moving every other contour by half a layer height, after the cross-sectioning step, so that a straight line cannot be drawn between layers. To maintain the original object geometry, a half height layer is printed for the first and last layer to create a flat top and bottom surface. This functionality has been implemented and tested as part of ORNL Slicer 2, an open-source toolpathing software package.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - SCF 2023
Subtitle of host publication8th Annual ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication
EditorsStephen N. Spencer
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery, Inc
ISBN (Electronic)9798400703195
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 8 2023
Event8th Annual ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication, SCF 2023 - New York, United States
Duration: Oct 8 2023Oct 10 2023

Publication series

NameProceedings - SCF 2023: 8th Annual ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication

Conference

Conference8th Annual ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication, SCF 2023
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew York
Period10/8/2310/10/23

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Advanced Manufacturing, under contract number DE-AC05-00OR22725.

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