Method and apparatus for optimizing a scanning plan in three-dimensional printing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for printing three-dimensional objects, layer by layer, the method comprising:
- automatically generating a pre-designed scanning plan for printing a layer of a three dimensional object in two or more scanning passes by a relative movement in a scanning direction of a printing head and a printing tray, where the pre-designed scanning plan includes a start position, and each of the scanning passes is assigned a respective length determined based on image data parameters of the layer;
performing, by a computing device, an optimization scheme to determine the start position of the pre-designed scanning plan so as to minimize an accumulated length of all lengths of the scanning passes; and
selectively depositing material from the printing head according to the pre-designed scanning plan to form the layer.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention may include a method for printing three-dimensional objects, layer by layer utilizing an optimized scheme of predefined passes for each layer based on considerations related to both throughput and quality of printing. Embodiment of the invention may include generating a scanning plan for a layer such that the accumulated length for all the scanning passes in the layer is minimized. The optimization scheme may be performed based on image data parameters, such as sizes, locations, dimensions and shapes of the imaged areas of the layer.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for printing three-dimensional objects, layer by layer, the method comprising:
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automatically generating a pre-designed scanning plan for printing a layer of a three dimensional object in two or more scanning passes by a relative movement in a scanning direction of a printing head and a printing tray, where the pre-designed scanning plan includes a start position, and each of the scanning passes is assigned a respective length determined based on image data parameters of the layer; performing, by a computing device, an optimization scheme to determine the start position of the pre-designed scanning plan so as to minimize an accumulated length of all lengths of the scanning passes; and selectively depositing material from the printing head according to the pre-designed scanning plan to form the layer.
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2. A method for printing three-dimensional objects, layer by layer, the method comprising:
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generating a pre-designed scanning plan for printing a layer of a three dimensional object in two or more scanning passes by a relative movement in a scanning direction of a printing head and a printing tray; and selectively depositing material from the printing head, based on the pre-designed scanning plan, such that a first scanning pass forms a first imaged area on the layer and a second scanning pass forms a second imaged area on the layer, where the second scanning pass partially overlaps the first scanning pass and the first and second imaged areas do not overlap. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for printing three-dimensional objects, layer by layer, the method comprising:
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generating a pre-designed scanning plan for printing a layer of a three dimensional object in two or more scanning passes by a relative movement in a scanning direction of a printing head and a printing tray, wherein the layer comprises first and second imaged areas separated from each other by a non-imaged area; selectively depositing material from the printing head according to the pre-designed scanning plan to form the layer; for each of a plurality of subsequent layers; prior to depositing material on the first imaged area, re-positioning, within a first range, a start position of the printing head in an indexing direction, the indexing direction being perpendicular to the scanning direction; and prior to depositing material on the second imaged area, re-positioning the start position of the printing head in the indexing direction within a second range, wherein the second range is different than the first range. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An article comprising a computer-storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processing platform, result in:
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generating a pre-designed scanning plan for printing a layer of a three dimensional object in two or more scanning passes by a relative movement in a scanning direction of a printing head and a printing tray; and selectively depositing material from the printing head, based on the pre-designed scanning plan, such that a first scanning pass forms a first imaged area on the layer and a second scanning pass forms a second imaged area on the layer, where the second scanning pass partially overlaps the first scanning pass and the first and second imaged areas do not overlap.
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11. A method for printing a three-dimensional object, layer by layer, the method comprising:
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selectively depositing material from a printing head in two or more scanning passes to form a layer of the three-dimensional object, wherein a first group comprised of at least one of the scanning passes forms a first imaged area on the layer and a second group comprised of at least one of the scanning passes forms a second imaged area on the layer such that the second imaged area is separated from the first imaged area by a non-imaged area; for each of a plurality of subsequent layers; prior to depositing material on the first imaged area, re-positioning, within a first range, a start position of the printing head in an indexing direction, the indexing direction being perpendicular to a scanning direction; and prior to depositing material on the second imaged area, re-positioning the start position of the printing head in the indexing direction within a second range, wherein the second range is different than the first range. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification