A Geometric Investigation of Layered Manufacturing: Algorithms, Software, and Fabrication

这个项目将研究分层制造中出现的几个几何问题的算法解决方案，在分层制造中，3D对象的物理原型是通过将模型定向和切片成平行层并连续制造层来直接从其计算机模型建立的。所考虑的问题包括寻找优化一个或多个设计标准(例如，层数、表面光洁度、所需支撑结构量)的模型的方向，以及用于模型分解、打包、切片、支撑生成以及偏移量和刀具路径计算的算法。该项目的范围包括设计和分析有效和实用的算法，它们在软件中的实施，以及通过在分层制造机器上实际制造部件来评估该软件。该项目将利用计算几何中的组合、算法和数据结构技术。该项目还将受益于一家专门从事分层制造的领先公司的工程师的投入和实用专业知识，该公司与该公司的合作已经在进行中。预计拟议的工作将导致分层制造的显著设计和性能改进，并将为计算几何的研究开辟有趣的新方向。

This project will investigate algorithmic solutions to several geometric problems arising in layered manufacturing, where a physical prototype of a 3D object is built directly from its computer model by orienting and slicing the model into parallel layers and manufacturing the layers successively. The problems considered include finding orientations of the model that optimize one or more design criteria (e.g., number of layers, surface finish, amount of support structures needed), and algorithms for model decomposition, packing, slicing, support generation, and computation of offsets and tool-paths. The scope of the project includes the design and analysis of efficient and practical algorithms, their implementation in software, and, furthermore, the evaluation of this software via actual fabrication of parts on a layered manufacturing machine. The project will draw upon combinatorial, algorithmic, and data structuring techniques from computational geometry. The project will also benefit considerably from the input and practical expertise of engineers at a leading company specializing in layered manufacturing, with whom a collaboration is already underway. It is expected that the proposed work will result in significant design and performance improvements in layered manufacturing and will also open up interesting new directions for research in computational geometry.