Efficient concurrent toolpath planning for multi-material layered manufacturing

摘要

This paper proposes an algorithm for planning efficient concurrent toolpaths to reduce thernbuild-time of fabricating multi-material prototypes by layered manufacturing. The algorithm firstrnsorts and partitions slice contours into hierarchical families of specific materials to enhancernconcurrent tool movements. It then detects overlapping of parametric tool envelopes with arn“Two-phase Overlap Query Algorithm” to avoid potential tool collisions. Finally, it plansrnconcurrent movements with an “Immediate Fabrication Algorithm” (IFA) to enhance fabricationrnefficiency by reducing idle time of tools. The algorithm is being implemented in a multi-materialrnvirtual prototyping system. It can be adapted for control of physical fabrication of multi-materialrnprototypes when appropriate hardware becomes available.