Systems and methods of simulating intermediate forms for additive fabrication
AssigneeFormlabs, Inc.
InventorShane Wighton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to some embodiments, a method of optimizing an additive fabrication process for an object is provided, the method comprising obtaining a representation of an intermediate form of the object, the intermediate form being an expected shape of the object when partially fabricated by the additive fabrication process, simulating one or more forces expected to be applied to the intermediate form of the object during the additive fabrication process, evaluating one or more results of the simulating step against one or more criteria, and adapting the additive fabrication process based at least in part on a result of the evaluating.
Claims20
A method of optimizing an additive fabrication process for an object to be fabricated by an additive fabrication device from N layers of material, the method comprising:
- identifying a first intermediate form of the object, the first intermediate form of the object being an expected shape after M of the N layers of the object have been formed, wherein M is less than N;
- simulating, using at least one processor, one or more forces expected to be applied to the first intermediate form of the object during fabrication of the object by the additive fabrication device;
- generating, using the at least one processor, a support structure for the object, wherein when one or more results of the simulating step exceed any of one or more thresholds, the generated support structure comprises at least one support coupled to one or more of the M layers of the object;
- and
- generating, using the at least one processor, instructions that, when executed by the additive fabrication device, cause the additive fabrication device to fabricate the object and the support structure.
At least one non-transitory computer readable medium comprising an executable program that, when executed, causes a computer to perform a method of optimizing an additive fabrication process for an object to be fabricated by an additive fabrication device from N layers of material, the method comprising:
- identifying a first intermediate form of the object, the first intermediate form of the object being an expected shape after M of the N layers of the object have been formed, wherein M is less than N;
- simulating, using at least one processor, one or more forces expected to be applied to the first intermediate form of the object during fabrication of the object by the additive fabrication device;
- generating, using the at least one processor, a support structure for the object, wherein when one or more results of the simulating step exceed any of one or more thresholds, the generated support structure comprises at least one support coupled to one or more of the M layers of the object;
- and
- generating, using the at least one processor, instructions that, when executed by the additive fabrication device, cause the additive fabrication device to fabricate the object and the support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.