Additive Manufacturing

A method of generating tool path data for use in additive manufacturing, the method comprising:

• providing object design data in which at least a part of the object is represented by a surface;
• slicing the surface to generate a first layer line that lies within a first build layer and a second layer line that lies within a second build layer;
• projecting the second layer line to a projected layer line that lies within the first build layer;
• and
• using the first layer line and projected layer line to provide tool path data for the first build layer.

A data processing system for generating tool path data for use in additive manufacturing, the system comprising processing circuitry configured to perform a method of generating tool path data, the processing circuitry being configured to:

• provide object design data in which at least a part of the object is represented by a line;
• discretize the line to generate a first layer point that lies within a first build layer and a second layer point that lies within a second build layer;
• project the second layer point to a projected layer point that lies within the first build layer;
• and
• connect the first layer point to the projected layer point to provide tool path data for the first build layer.

A data processing system for generating tool path data for use in additive manufacturing, the system comprising processing circuitry configured to perform a method of generating tool path data, the processing circuitry being configured to:

• provide object design data in which at least a part of the object is represented by a surface;
• slice the surface to generate a first layer line that lies within a first build layer and a second layer line that lies within a second build layer;
• project the second layer line to a projected layer line that lies within the first build layer;
• and
• use the first layer line and projected layer line to provide tool path data for the first build layer.