Region-based supports for parts produced by solid freeform fabrication
Assignee3D Systems, Inc.
InventorsCharles W. Hull, Rajeev Kulkarni, Medhi Mojdeh, Hongqing V. Wang, John Corbin West
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for generating supports (30) for parts (50) produced by solid freeform fabrication (“SFF”) are disclosed. The method includes defining a plurality of layers (L) that make up the part, and for each layer, determining those regions (R) that require support. The method also includes merging the regions for the different layers (L) into one or more common regions that require support, and providing at least one support for each of the one or more common regions. The result is that fewer supports are used as compared to conventional SFF fabrication methods.
Claims17
A method for determining one or more geometries for one or more supports for a part produced by solid freeform fabrication, the method comprising:
- determining a general surface of the part to which the one or more supports join to the part;
- dividing the surface into a plurality of regions that require at least one support;
- calculating a cross-sectional area of the at least one support for the region that contacts the part based upon a ratio of a size of the region to a size of the cross-sectional area;
- wherein calculating a cross-sectional area of the at least one support comprises:
- identifying one or more local maxima of the part;
- identifying at least one island associated with the local maxima;
- identifying a largest cross-section for the island and a corresponding number of pixels for the largest cross-section for the island;
- and
- defining a total number of support pixels required to support the island.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.