Efficient Algorithm for Automatic Support Structure Generation in Layered Manufacturing

Abstract

Abstract Stereolithography is a process used to rapidly produce polymer components directly from a computer representation of a part. There are several considerations to be made for the efficient use of the process. Especially, the necessity of support structures, which prevent the part from warping, sagging, or parachuting and toppling as the elevator moves up and down in the resin, is one concern. After solidification, the support structures must be removed in the end. Thus the more the support structures, the more it increases the finishing operations. Especially for a complicated part, the removal operations may be difficult, take so much time, and even reduce the accuracy of the product. It is, therefore, important to efficiently generate the support structure for each part geometry. This paper proposes a algorithm to automatically generate the support structure focused on accuracy, efficiency, convenience, and generation speed. Besides, we can exactly determine an optimal build-up direction for the minimum volume of support structures.