System and method for determining spatial distribution of variable deposition size in additive manufacturing
US11580278B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 2019 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/25
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A three-dimensional object model is divided into slices that are targeted for an additive manufacturing process operable to deposit material at a variable deposition size ranging between minimum and maximum printable feature sizes. For each of the slices, a thinning algorithm is applied to contours of the slice to form a meso-skeleton. Topological features of the thinned slice are reduced over a number of passes such that a portion of the meso-skeleton is reduced to a single pixel wide line. Based on the number of passes, a slice-specific printable feature size within the range of the minimum and maximum printable feature sizes is determined. An adjusted slice is formed by sweeping the meso-skeleton with the slice-specific printable feature size. The adjusted slices are assembled into an object model which is used to create a manufactured object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.