Computer-implemented method for defining the points of development of supporting elements of an object made by means of a stereolithography process

An electronic processing device for defining points of development of supporting elements on three dimensional model of an object and for driving a stereolithography machine during production of the object, processing device comprising:

• storage means storing a program of executable instructions;
• a processor configured to execute said executable instructions to:
• define surfaces of said object whose points are at least partially oriented towards a reference plane;
• trace a grid of points on each one of said surfaces;
• define, for each one of said surfaces, local minima points with respect to said reference plane;
• for each one of said surfaces, adapt said grid of points so that one of said points of said grid coincides with each one of said local minima points for each one of said surfaces;
• identify the points of said adapted grid as points of development of said supporting elements for each one of said surfaces;
• and
• drive the stereolithography machine using the points of development to produce the three-dimensional object and the supporting elements through formation of sequential superimposition of solidified layers.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions which when executed on a computer controlling a stereolithography machine, perform a process, said stereolithography machine producing a three-dimensional object and support elements, the executable instructions comprising instructions to perform the functions of:

• defining surfaces of said object whose points are at least partially oriented towards a reference plane;
• tracing a grid of points on each one of said surfaces;
• defining, for each one of said surfaces, local minima points with respect to said reference plane;
• for each one of said surfaces, adapting said grid of points so that one of said points of said grid coincides with each one of said local minima points;
• identifying the points of said adapted grid as points of development of said supporting elements for each one of said surfaces;
• and
• driving the stereolithography machine using the points of development to produce the three-dimensional object and the supporting elements through formation of sequential superimposition of solidified layers.