Generation and optimization of slice profile data in rapid prototyping and manufacturing

STL-based slicing is the commonly used method in processing the problem of layered manufacturing. A slicing algorithm based on the model geometrical continuity is presented. In the strategy, the grouping matrix and the active triangle table were established by sorting for the triangular facets according to the minimum and maximum z-axis value of the triangular facets. By generating new intersecting facets table of each slicing plane and extracting only topology information of the current slicing plane, inner memory is remarkably saved, while the extracting time is also saved to some extent. The inefficient judgment about the location relations of triangle facets and slicing plane has been avoided, thus advanced the slicing efficiency. Aiming at the inherence error in slicing operation brought by the approximation of the standard STL model, such as the non-closed cross-section contour and so on, an effective filtering and optimization algorithm based on feature analysis for the slicing profile has been put forward. A case study is also presented to illustrate the feasibility and efficiency for the developed algorithms and the proposed strategy.