Adaptive direct slicing of a commercial CAD model for use in rapid prototyping

Slicing a 3D graphic model into layers of 2D contour plots is an essential step for all rapid prototyping (RP) machines. Various methods are available, such as stereo lithography (STL) file slicing, direct slicing and adaptive direct slicing. Amongst these, adaptive direct slicing is the most advanced for its capability of adapting the slicing thickness according to the curvature of any contour. In this study, an adaptive direct slicing method complete with the algorithm for calculating the thickness of each layer is proposed. As an illustration of the method, the algorithm was programmed within the commercial CAD software package, PowerSHAPE. The method was shown to be fast and accurate in comparison with STL file slicing and direct slicing, which both used a constant layer thickness.

[1]  Richard H. Crawford,et al.  A Method to Generate Exact Contour Files for Solid Freeform Fabrication , 1992 .

[2]  C. C. Chang.  Direct slicing and G-code contour for rapid prototyping machine of UV resin spray using PowerSOLUTION macro commands , 2004 .

[3]  Ron Jamieson,et al.  Direct slicing of CAD models for rapid prototyping , 1995 .

[4]  Tong Mei,et al.  Interface between CAD and Rapid Prototyping systems. Part 1: A study of existing interfaces , 1997 .

[5]  Paul F. Jacobs,et al.  Stereolithography and Other Rp&m Technologies: From Rapid Prototyping to Rapid Tooling , 1995 .

[6]  Georges M. Fadel,et al.  Efficient slicing for layered manufacturing , 1998 .

[7]  Peter A. Jacobs,et al.  Adaptive slicing with sloping layer surfaces , 1997 .

[8]  Paul F. Jacobs,et al.  Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing: Fundamentals of Stereolithography , 1992 .

[9]  Xiao Chen,et al.  Direct Slicing from PowerSHAPE Models for Rapid Prototyping , 2001 .

[10]  Chee Kai Chua,et al.  A study of stereolithography file errors and repair. Part 1. Generic solution , 1996 .

[11]  Jan Helge Bøhn,et al.  Adaptive slicing using stepwise uniform refinement , 1996 .

[12]  Michael J. Wozny,et al.  Adaptive Slicing of Solid Freeform Fabrication Processes , 1994 .

[13]  Detlef Kochan,et al.  Solid Freeform Manufacturing: Advanced Rapid Prototyping , 1993 .

[14]  Leong Kah Fai,et al.  Rapid Prototyping: Principles and Applications in Manufacturing , 2003 .

[15]  Michael Wozny,et al.  Systems Issues in Solid Freeform Fabrication , 1992 .

[16]  André Dolenc,et al.  Slicing procedures for layered manufacturing techniques , 1994, Comput. Aided Des..

[17]  Han Tong Loh,et al.  Optimal orientation with variable slicing in stereolithography , 1997 .

[18]  Jerry Y. H. Fuh,et al.  Laser-induced materials and processes for rapid prototyping , 2001 .

[19]  Chee Kai Chua,et al.  A study of stereolithography file errors and repair. Part 2. Special cases , 1996 .