Adaptive lamina generation for shape dependent process control and/or object decomposition

A method involving automatic operation of a machine with respect to an object having a desired profile, wherein the operation of the machine is controlled based on a model of the profile of the object, the method comprising:

• generating at least a portion of a model of the object, said portion of said model including a plurality of successive layers wherein the cross-section of each layer in a plane of view is defined by the intersection with said plane of view, of a pair of parallel planes and a model profile connecting said parallel planes, and wherein for each layer the distance separating its pair of parallel planes defines the thickness of said layer;
• wherein said step of generating at least said portion of said model of said object includes selecting each layer thickness such that the geometrical error between the desired profile of said portion of said object and said model profile of said layer with said layer thickness, remains no greater than a preselected geometrical error;
• wherein more than one layer thickness is selected during said step of generating at least said portion of said object;
• and
• operating the machine with respect to at least a portion of the object in successive steps with each said step based on a separate one of said layers.