Multilayer fiber reinforcement design for 3D printing

A machine implemented method for generating three-dimensional toolpath signals for controlling a three dimensional printer, the method comprising:

• receiving a three-dimensional geometry sliced into shells or layers;
• generating, for each shell or layer of a set of the shells or layers defining a portion of a 3D printed part, first isotropic fill toolpath signals defining motion of an isotropic solidifying head to solidify a substantially isotropic fill material along a first isotropic fill toolpath;
• generating, for each shell or layer of an anisotropic fill subset of the set of shells or layers defining the portion of the 3D printed part, first anisotropic fill toolpath signals defining motion of an anisotropic solidifying head to orient an anisotropic characteristic of a substantially anisotropic fill material along a first anisotropic fill toolpath;
• receiving a selection, from among the set of shells or layers defining the portion of the 3D printed part, of an editing subset of shells or layers, the editing subset including at least part of the anisotropic fill subset;
• generating, for each shell or layer of the editing subset, at least one of second isotropic fill toolpath signals and second anisotropic fill toolpath signals, the second isotropic fill toolpath signals defining motion of the isotropic solidifying head to solidify the substantially isotropic fill material along a second isotropic fill toolpath different from the first isotropic fill toolpath, and the second anisotropic fill toolpath signals defining motion of the anisotropic solidifying head to orient the anisotropic characteristic of the substantially anisotropic fill material along a second anisotropic fill toolpath different from the first anisotropic fill toolpath;
• and
• transmitting motion command signals corresponding to at least one of the first and second isotropic fill toolpath signals and at least one of the first and second anisotropic fill toolpath signals to the three dimensional printer, the motion command signals configured to control the three dimensional printer to print the 3D printed part by:
• solidifying, for each shell or layer of the set of shells or layers defining the portion of the 3D printed part, the substantially isotropic fill material along at least one of the first isotropic fill toolpath and the second isotropic fill toolpath;
• and
• orienting, for each shell or layer of the anisotropic fill subset, the anisotropic characteristic of the substantially anisotropic fill material along at least one of the first anisotropic fill toolpath and the second anisotropic fill toolpath such that each shell or layer of the anisotropic fill subset exhibits the anisotropic characteristic in at least one specific direction corresponding to a trajectory of the at least one of the first and second anisotropic fill toolpaths.