Method and a system to optimize printing parameters in additive manufacturing process
The present invention relates to a system and a method for optimizing printing parameters, such as slicing parameters and tool path instructions, for additive manufacturing. The present invention comprises a property analysis module that predicts and analyses properties of a filament object model, representing a constructed 3D object. The filament object model is generated based on the tool path instructions and user specified object properties. Analysis includes comparing the predicted filament object model properties with the user specified property requirements; and further modifying the printing parameters in order to meet the user specified property requirements.
1. A method for optimizing an additive manufacturing process for generating a three-dimensional (3D) object using a 3D printer, comprising:
(a) generating a current set of printing instructions for a current iteration, based at least in part on (i) a model of the 3D object in computer memory and (ii) a current set of printing parameters for the current iteration;
(b) generating an object model corresponding to the 3D object by using the current set of printing instructions;
(c) identifying a mismatch between (i) the object model and (ii) at least one property requirement of the 3D object;
(d) upon identifying the mismatch in (c), generating, for the current iteration, a next set of printing instructions based at least in part on (i) the model of the 3D object in computer memory and (ii) a next set of printing parameters for the current iteration, wherein the next set of printing parameters is different than the current set of printing parameters;
(e) repeating (b)-(d), in which the next set of printing parameters for the current iteration becomes the current set of printing parameters in (a), until an additional mismatch between an additional object model corresponding to the 3D object and the at least one property requirement of the 3D object is not identified, resulting in a final set of printing instructions for which there is no mismatch between a computed object model and the at least one property requirement; and
(f) transmitting the final set of printing instructions for printing the 3D object with the 3D printer;
wherein (e) is performed prior to initiating printing of the 3D object with the 3D printer.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising (i) computing at least one property of the object model, (ii) processing the at least one property with the at least one property requirement to identify the mismatch, and (iii) modifying one or more build parameters.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more build parameters is selected from the group consisting of temperature of build platform, temperature of build chamber, temperature of nozzle, raft properties, and object material properties.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to (a), generating the current set of printing instructions based at least in part on (i) the model of the 3D object in computer memory and (ii) the current set of printing parameters.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing, with the 3D printer, the 3D object using the final set of printing instructions.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the model of the 3D object based at least in part on the next set of printing parameters and the next set of printing instructions.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the current set of printing parameters is selected from the group consisting of slicing parameter, material property, support property, printing speed, and raft angle.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object model corresponding to the 3D object and the at least one property requirement of the 3D object comprises geometrical properties defining shape and configuration of the 3D object and material properties.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object model comprises finite element blocks corresponding to individual material for deposition from the 3D printer.
10. A system for optimizing an additive manufacturing process for generating a three dimensional (3D) object using a 3D printer, comprising:
a computing device that is configured to:
(a) generate a current set of printing instructions for a current iteration, based at least in part on (i) a model of the 3D object in computer memory and (ii) a current set of printing parameters for the current iteration;
(b) generate an object model corresponding to the 3D object by using the current set of printing instructions;
(c) identify a mismatch between (i) the object model and (ii) at least one property requirement of the 3D object;
(d) upon identifying the mismatch in (c), generate, for the current iteration, a next set of printing instructions based at least in part on (i) the model of the 3D object in computer memory and (ii) a next set of printing parameters for the current iteration, wherein the next set of printing parameters is different than the current set of printing parameters;
(e) repeat (b)-(d), in which the next set of printing parameters for the current iteration becomes the current set of printing parameters in (a), until a mismatch between an additional object model corresponding to the 3D object and the at least one property requirement of the 3D object is not identified, resulting in a final set of printing instructions for which there is no mismatch between a computed object model and the at least one property requirement; and
(f) transmit the final set of printing instructions for printing the 3D object with the 3D printer;
wherein the computing device is configured to perform (e) prior to initiating printing of the 3D object with the 3D printer.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is configured to (i) compute at least one property of the object model, (ii) process the at least one property of the object model with the at least one property requirement to identify the mismatch, and (iii) modify one or more build parameters.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more build parameters is selected from the group consisting of temperature of build platform, temperature of build chamber, temperature of nozzle, raft properties, and object material properties.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is configured, prior to (a), to generate the current set of printing instructions based at least in part on (i) the model of the 3D object in computer memory and (ii) the current set of printing parameters.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is configured to print, via the 3D printer, the 3D object using the final set of printing instructions.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is configured to update the model of the 3D object based at least in part on the next set of printing parameters and the next set of printing instructions.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the current set of printing parameters is selected from the group consisting of slicing parameter, material property, support property, printing speed, and raft angle.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the object model corresponding to the 3D object and the at least one property requirement of the 3D object comprises geometrical properties defining shape and configuration of the 3D object and material properties.
18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the object model comprises finite element blocks corresponding to individual material for deposition from the 3D printer.