Systems and methods for controlling additive manufacturing

A method of fabricating a structure with an additive manufacturing machine, the method comprising:

• receiving input indicative of at least one of an anticipated loading condition of the structure and a performance specification;
• making a determination associated with the structure being a performance-critical part based on the input;
• based on the determination, selectively implementing a first slicing technique to divide a virtual model of the structure into a plurality of overlapping layers and a second slicing technique to divide the virtual model of the structure into a plurality of layers, at least one of which is unsupported;
• causing the additive manufacturing machine to deposit composite material corresponding to the plurality of layers;
• generating at least a first tool path on each of the plurality of layers generated using the first slicing technique to be followed by the additive manufacturing machine during discharge of the composite material, the at least a first tool path spiraling outward from a center of each of the plurality of layers generated using the first slicing technique;
• and
• generating at least a second tool path on each of the plurality of layers generated using the second slicing technique to be followed by the additive manufacturing machine during discharge of the composite material, the at least a second tool path generated using the second slicing technique being oriented based on the forces.

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable programming instructions for performing a method of additively manufacturing a structure, the method comprising:

• receiving input indicative of at least one of an anticipated loading condition of the structure and a performance specification;
• making a determination associated with the structure being a performance-critical part based on the input;
• based on the determination,
• selectively implementing a first slicing technique to generate a plurality of layers that allow an additive manufacturing machine to deposit a composite material in a parallel and overlapping manner based on efficiency;
• and
• selectively implementing a second slicing technique to generate a plurality of layers that allow the additive manufacturing machine to deposit the composite material based on forces anticipated to pass through the structure, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers generated via the second slicing technique is unsupported;
• generating at least a first tool path on each of the plurality of layers generated using the first slicing technique to be followed by the additive manufacturing machine during discharge of the composite material, the at least a first tool path spiraling outward from a center of each of the plurality of layers generated using the first slicing technique;
• generating at least a second tool path on each of the plurality of layers generated using the second slicing technique to be followed by the additive manufacturing machine during discharge of the composite material, the at least a second tool path generated using the second slicing technique being aligned with a load vector passing through the structure;
• and
• causing the additive manufacturing machine to deposit composite material corresponding to the plurality of layers following the at least a first tool path and the at least a second tool path.