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.
Claims16
A method of supporting on a build pad a part formed by solid freeform fabrication (SFF), comprising:
- defining a plurality of layers that make up the part;
- for at least one layer, determining regions that require support by determining one or more portions of the layer that are self-supporting;
- merging regions of different layers into one or more common regions for the part;
- and
- providing at least one support for the one or more common regions, wherein providing 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 adequately support the island.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.