Three-dimensional printing using fast STL file conversion
US10061284B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 19, 2015 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/49023
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods are provided for solid free-form fabrication of an article without using a slice stack file quickly and efficiently—in terms of computational resources—converting STL files representing an article or articles to be built by SFFF without the use of a conventional slicing program. An application program interface (“API”) is used to generate a bitmap corresponding to each particular layer of the article that is to be printed directly from the article's STL file. This conversion may done essentially in real time immediately before the particular layer is to be printed. The bitmap is used in configuring the printing instructions for the SFFF printing mechanism to print that particular layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.