THE IMPACT OF PATH OPTIMIZATION ON PRINT TIME IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Path optimization for 3D printing is what enables path ordering and directionality to be conducted in an efficient manner. Without it, unnecessary travel increases print time and reduces the efficiency of the additive manufacturing equipment by not maximizing the deposition time. The path optimization process happens immediately after the path planning process. Both of these steps are important operations in the overall slicing process wherein a mesh, typically an STL, is sliced into layers that are fitted with toolpaths and exported as g-code instructions to be executed by a 3D printer. The optimization process can take many forms, but often relies on proper ordering of the paths and points within a layer so that the layer is printed as quickly as possible. A new solution, implemented via open-source software, enables additional user control for proper optimization of islands, paths, and points within a layer. With this additional control, the toolpaths can be optimized for print time, travel distance, geometric accuracy, and more. This work explores this new implementation of path optimization strategies that allows for more user control of the optimization process. To test the new optimization control, various optimization strategy combinations will be compared to document the impact on total print time and path distance. These optimization strategies are applicable to a wide variety of additive manufacturing systems including thermoplastics, thermosets, composites, and more, and the implementation as documented is immediately available via open-source software.