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ADAPTIVE SUPPORTS FOR 3D PRINTING

  • US 20150066178A1
  • Filed: 08/30/2013
  • Published: 03/05/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • detecting, by a computing device, at least one area of a three dimensional (3D) model that needs to be supported in a 3D printing of the 3D model;

    generating, by the computing device, contact points for the at least one area;

    creating a set of virtual supports, each virtual support in the set extending downward from a respective one of the contact points;

    identifying connections between the virtual supports in the set, the connections satisfying one or more connection constraints;

    selecting a virtual support in the set to be a trunk, the selecting based on comparing connectivity levels of the virtual supports in the set, the connectivity level of each of the virtual supports in the set determined based on a number of connections between the respective virtual support and other virtual supports in the set;

    defining a support structure originating from the contact points and extending downward towards a surface, wherein the support structure includes the trunk, at least one virtual support connected to the trunk, and connections between the trunk and the at least one virtual support.

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