STEP-Based Direct Slicing Algorithm for Rapid Prototyping

According to the differential characteristics of elemental curve/surface and parametric curve/surface, differential methods were taken to compute their intersection points and curves with a plane. The stability and efficiency of the algorithm would be improved. After studying the intersection algorithms of plane and elemental curve/surface parametric curve/surface, a STEP based direct slicing algorithm for rapid prototyping was presented. Compared to the slicing of STL model, the STEP based direct slicing of CAD model can obtain the exact section of the original CAD model. Compared to other direct slicing in some special CAD systems, the STEP based direct slicing of CAD model outside CAD system is more general and independent on special CAD systems.