Sparse support path generation for multi-axis curved layer fused filament fabrication
In recent years, multi-axis fused filament fabrication has emerged as a solution to address the limitations of the conventional 2.5D printing process. By using a curved layering strategy and varying the print direction, the final parts can be printed with reduced support structures, enhanced surface...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Graphical Models |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S152407032500027X |
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| _version_ | 1849728844071698432 |
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| author | Tak Yu Lau Dong He Yamin Li Yihe Wang Danjie Bi Lulu Huang Pengcheng Hu Kai Tang |
| author_facet | Tak Yu Lau Dong He Yamin Li Yihe Wang Danjie Bi Lulu Huang Pengcheng Hu Kai Tang |
| author_sort | Tak Yu Lau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, multi-axis fused filament fabrication has emerged as a solution to address the limitations of the conventional 2.5D printing process. By using a curved layering strategy and varying the print direction, the final parts can be printed with reduced support structures, enhanced surface quality, and improved mechanical properties. However, support structures in the multi-axis scheme are still needed sometimes when the support-free requirement conflicts with other constraints. Currently, most support generation algorithms are for the conventional 2.5D printing, which are not applicable to multi-axis printing. To address this issue, we propose a sparse and curved support filling pattern for multi-axis printing, aiming at enhancing the material efficiency by fully utilizing the bridge technique. Firstly, the overhang regions are detected by identifying the overhang points given a multi-axis nozzle path. Then, an optimization framework for the support guide curve is proposed to minimize its total length while ensuring that overhang filaments can be stably supported. Lastly, the support layer slices and support segments that satisfy the self-supported criterion are generated for the final support printing paths. Simulation and experiments have been performed to validate the proposed methodology. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4a6f27cb4b2e4d5ca7181ad384f6ab07 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1524-0703 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Graphical Models |
| spelling | doaj-art-4a6f27cb4b2e4d5ca7181ad384f6ab072025-08-20T03:09:25ZengElsevierGraphical Models1524-07032025-08-0114010128010.1016/j.gmod.2025.101280Sparse support path generation for multi-axis curved layer fused filament fabricationTak Yu Lau0Dong He1Yamin Li2Yihe Wang3Danjie Bi4Lulu Huang5Pengcheng Hu6Kai Tang7Thrust of Smart Manufacturing, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, ChinaState IJR Center of Aerospace Design and Additive Manufacturing, School of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 710072, ChinaThrust of Smart Manufacturing, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, ChinaThrust of Smart Manufacturing, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, ChinaThrust of Smart Manufacturing, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, ChinaThrust of Smart Manufacturing, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, ChinaThrust of Smart Manufacturing, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China; HKUST Shenzhen-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China; Corresponding author.In recent years, multi-axis fused filament fabrication has emerged as a solution to address the limitations of the conventional 2.5D printing process. By using a curved layering strategy and varying the print direction, the final parts can be printed with reduced support structures, enhanced surface quality, and improved mechanical properties. However, support structures in the multi-axis scheme are still needed sometimes when the support-free requirement conflicts with other constraints. Currently, most support generation algorithms are for the conventional 2.5D printing, which are not applicable to multi-axis printing. To address this issue, we propose a sparse and curved support filling pattern for multi-axis printing, aiming at enhancing the material efficiency by fully utilizing the bridge technique. Firstly, the overhang regions are detected by identifying the overhang points given a multi-axis nozzle path. Then, an optimization framework for the support guide curve is proposed to minimize its total length while ensuring that overhang filaments can be stably supported. Lastly, the support layer slices and support segments that satisfy the self-supported criterion are generated for the final support printing paths. Simulation and experiments have been performed to validate the proposed methodology.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S152407032500027XMulti-axis fused filament fabricationSupport structureOverhang regionBridge techniqueOptimization |
| spellingShingle | Tak Yu Lau Dong He Yamin Li Yihe Wang Danjie Bi Lulu Huang Pengcheng Hu Kai Tang Sparse support path generation for multi-axis curved layer fused filament fabrication Graphical Models Multi-axis fused filament fabrication Support structure Overhang region Bridge technique Optimization |
| title | Sparse support path generation for multi-axis curved layer fused filament fabrication |
| title_full | Sparse support path generation for multi-axis curved layer fused filament fabrication |
| title_fullStr | Sparse support path generation for multi-axis curved layer fused filament fabrication |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sparse support path generation for multi-axis curved layer fused filament fabrication |
| title_short | Sparse support path generation for multi-axis curved layer fused filament fabrication |
| title_sort | sparse support path generation for multi axis curved layer fused filament fabrication |
| topic | Multi-axis fused filament fabrication Support structure Overhang region Bridge technique Optimization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S152407032500027X |
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