Apparatus, method and article for direct slicing of step based nurbs models for solid freeform fabrication
First Claim
1. A method for use in solid freeform fabrication, the method comprising:
- receiving a computer-aided design (CAD) model in a cross-platform compatible format, the CAD model comprising at least one untessellated mathematical representation of one or more surfaces; and
adaptively slicing at least one of the surfaces in the CAD model to produce at least a first set of sliced data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Direct slicing of CAD models to generate process planning instructions for solid freeform fabrication may overcome inherent disadvantages of using STL format in terms of the process accuracy, ease of file management, and incorporation of multiple materials. This paper will present the results of our development of a direct slicing algorithm for layered freeform fabrication. The direct slicing algorithm was based on a neutral, international standard (ISO 10303) STEP-formatted NURBS geometric representation and is intended to be independent of any commercial CAD software. The following aspects of the development effort will be presented: 1) Determination of optimal build direction based upon STEP-based NURBS models; 2) Adaptive subdivision of NURBS data for geometric refinement; and 3) Ray-casting slice generation into sets of raster patterns. Feasibility studies applying the direct slicing algorithm to example models and the generation of fabrication planning instructions involving multi-material structures will also be presented.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for use in solid freeform fabrication, the method comprising:
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receiving a computer-aided design (CAD) model in a cross-platform compatible format, the CAD model comprising at least one untessellated mathematical representation of one or more surfaces; and
adaptively slicing at least one of the surfaces in the CAD model to produce at least a first set of sliced data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable medium storing instructions for causing a computer to produce sliced data use in solid freeform fabrication, by:
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receiving a computer-aided design (CAD) model in a cross-platform compatible format, the CAD model comprising at least one untessellated mathematical representation of one or more surfaces; and
adaptively slicing at least one of the surfaces in the CAD model to produce at least a first set of sliced data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer programmed to produce sliced data use in solid freeform fabrication, the computer comprising:
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means for receiving a computer-aided design (CAD) model in a cross-platform compatible format, the CAD model comprising at least one untessellated mathematical representation of one or more surfaces; and
means for adaptively slicing at least one of the surfaces in the CAD model to produce at least a first set of sliced data. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for use in solid freeform fabrication, the method comprising:
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receiving a computer-aided design (CAD) model in a cross-platform compatible format, the CAD model comprising at least one untessellated mathematical representation of one or more surfaces; and
optimizing the at least one untessellated mathematical representation of one or more surfaces of the CAD model. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A computer-readable medium storing instructions for causing a computer produce model data for use in solid freeform fabrication, by:
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receiving a computer-aided design (CAD) model in a cross-platform compatible format, the CAD model comprising at least one untessellated mathematical representation of one or more surfaces; and
optimizing the at least one untessellated mathematical representation of one or more surfaces of the CAD model. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer programmed to produce model data use in solid freeform fabrication, by:
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receiving a computer-aided design (CAD) model in a cross-platform compatible format, the CAD model comprising at least one untessellated mathematical representation of one or more surfaces; and
optimizing the at least one untessellated mathematical representation of one or more surfaces of the CAD model. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification