Patent · US Active

Region-based supports for parts produced by solid freeform fabrication

US8046097B2 · kind B2 · utility

19Cited by

11References

17Claims

0Family size

Assignee

3D SYSTEMS, INC. · US

Inventors

Charles W. Hull · Santa Clarita, US
Rajeev Kulkarni · Valencia, US
Medhi Mojdeh · Valencia, US
Hongqing V. Wang · North Myrtle Beach, US
John C. West · Mount Holly, US

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 17, 2008
Grant date	Oct 25, 2011
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Sep 19, 2029

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB33Y50/02
WIPO fieldOther special machines
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Methods for generating supports (30) for parts (50) produced by solid freeform fabrication (“SFF”) are disclosed. The method includes defining a plurality of layers (L) that make up the part, and for each layer, determining those regions (R) that require support. The method also includes merging the regions for the different layers (L) into one or more common regions that require support, and providing at least one support for each of the one or more common regions. The result is that fewer supports are used as compared to conventional SFF fabrication methods.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.