Build path optimization using grouped trianges of a polygonal mesh

A method for generating extrusion paths to fabricate an object based on a three-dimensional model, the method comprising:

• parsing the three-dimensional model to extract a plurality of triangle coordinates, the plurality of triangle coordinates forming a plurality of triangles that characterize an exterior surface of the three-dimensional model;
• grouping the plurality of triangles according to a plurality of layers, wherein each of the plurality of layers is a fabrication layer at a processing height step within a build volume of a three-dimensional printer, and wherein each of the plurality of layers nonexclusively contains one or more of the plurality of triangles intersecting the one of the plurality of layers at the processing height step, thereby providing a group of triangles for each of the plurality of layers within the build volume;
• for each layer of the plurality of layers containing at least one triangle:
• selecting a corresponding group of triangles,
• identifying line segments where each triangle in the corresponding group of triangles intersects a plane of the layer,
• combining the line segments into one or more loops for the layer, and
• processing each of the one or more loops into a printable path for a portion of the object within that one of the plurality of layers;
• and
• combining the printable path for the object in each one of the plurality of layers to form an extrusion path for fabricating the object within the build volume.

A computer program product for generating extrusion paths to fabricate an object based on a three-dimensional model, the computer program product comprising non-transitory computer executable code embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the steps of:

• parsing the three-dimensional model to extract a plurality of triangle coordinates forming a plurality of triangles that characterizing an exterior surface of the three-dimensional model;
• grouping the plurality of triangles according to a plurality of layers, wherein each of the plurality of layers is a fabrication layer for the object, and wherein each of the plurality of layers nonexclusively contains one or more of the plurality of triangles intersecting the one of the plurality of layers, thereby providing a group of triangles for each of the fabrication layers;
• for each layer containing one or more of the triangles:
• selecting a corresponding group of triangles for the layer,
• identifying line segments where each triangle in the corresponding group of triangles intersects the layer,
• combining the line segments into one or more loops for the layer, and
• processing each of the one or more loops into a printable path for a portion of the object;
• and
• combining the printable path for the object in each layer to form an extrusion path for fabricating the object with a three-dimensional printer.

A system comprising:

• a three-dimensional printer having an extruder;
• and
• processing circuitry associated with the three-dimensional printer and configured by computer executable code to perform the steps of:
• receiving a three-dimensional model of an object;
• parsing the three-dimensional model to extract a plurality of triangle coordinates forming a plurality of triangles that characterizing an exterior surface of the three-dimensional model;
• grouping the plurality of triangles according to a plurality of layers, wherein each of the plurality of layers is a fabrication layer for the object, and wherein each of the plurality of layers nonexclusively contains one or more of the plurality of triangles intersecting the one of the plurality of layers, thereby providing a group of triangles for each of the fabrication layers;
• for each layer containing one or more of the triangles:
• selecting a corresponding group of triangles for the layer,
• identifying line segments where each triangle in the corresponding group of triangles intersects the layer,
• combining the line segments into one or more loops for the layer, and
• processing each of the one or more loops into a printable path for a portion of the object;
• and
• combining the printable path for the object in each layer to form an extrusion path for fabricating the object with a three-dimensional printer.