An Enhanced Slicing Algorithm Using Nearest Distance Analysis for Layer Manufacturing

Although the STL (stereo lithography) file format is widely used as a de facto industry standard in the rapid prototyping industry due to its simplicity and ability to tessellation of almost all surfaces, but there are always some defects and shortcoming in their usage, which many of them are difficult to correct manually. In processing the complex models, size of the file and its defects grow extremely, therefore, correcting STL files become difficult. In this paper through optimizing the exiting algorithms, size of the files and memory usage of computers to process them will be reduced. In spite of type and extent of the errors in STL files, the tail-to-head searching method and analysis of the nearest distance between tails and heads techniques were used. As a result STL models sliced rapidly, and fully closed contours produced effectively and errorless.

Authors:

• M. Vatani
• A. R. Rahimi
• F. Brazandeh
• A. Sanati nezhad

Keywords:

• Layer manufacturing
• STL files
• slicing algorithm
• nearest distance analysis.

References:

[1] Reed K, Harvd D, Conroy W "Initial graphics exchange specification
(IGES) version 5.0". CAD-CAM Data Exchange Technical Center,
Fairfax, VA,1990
[2] Owen J "STEP: an introduction. Information Geometers", Winchester,
UK,1990
[3] Hewlett-Packard Company Staff " The HP-GL/2 reference guide: a
handbook for program developers", Addison- Wesley, Reading,
MA,1990
[4] Swaelens B, Kruth JP "Medical application of rapid prototyping
techniques". The 4th international conference on rapid prototyping,
Dayton, Ohio, pp 107-120, 14-17 June 1993
[5] Rock SJ, Wozny MJ "A flexible file format for solid freeform
fabrication". In: Marcus HL et al (eds) Proceedings of solid freeform
fabrication symposium, The University of Texas at Austin , pp 1-12,
12-14 August 1991
[6] Wozny MJ "Systems issues in solid freeform fabrication". In: Marcus
HL et al (eds) Proceedings of solid freeform fabrication symposium,
The University of Texas at Austin, pp 1-15, 12-14 August 1992
[7] BRITE/Euram "Common layer interface CLI version 1.31". Brite Euram
project BE2578 RPTÔÇödevelopment and integration of rapid prototyping
techniques for the automotive industry, Brite/Euram Industrial and
Materials Technologies. 1994
[8] Dolenc A, Malela I "Leaf: a data exchange format for LMT processes".
The 3rd international conference on rapid prototyping, Dayton, Ohio, pp
4-12, 1992
[9] Burns M Automated fabrication. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ,
1992
[10] 3D Systems Inc, Stereolithography Interface Specification, 1988.
[11] Y. H. Chen, C. T. Ng and Y. Z. Wang, "Data reduction in integrated
reverse engineering and rapid prototyping", International Journal
Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 12(2), pp. 97-103, February 1999.
[12] K. F. Leong. C. K. Chua and Y. M. Ng, "A study of stereolithography
files errors and repair. Part 1: Generic solution", International Journal of
Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 12, pp. 407- 414, 1996.
[13] K. F. Leong. C. K. Chua and Y. M. Ng, "A study of stereolithography
files errors and repair. Part 2: Special cases", International Journal of
Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 12, pp. 415-422, 1996.
[14] Tong 7Wu. Edmund H. M. Cheung,-- Enhanced STL--, International
Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology,29,pp 1143-1150,2006
[15] L.-C. Zhang, M. Han and S.-H. Huang," An Effective Error-Tolerance
Slicing Algorithm for STL Files", International Journal of Advanced
Manufacturing Technology , 20,pp 363-367,2002
[16] S.H. Choi and K.T. Kwok ," A tolerant slicing algorithm for layered
manufacturing", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Volume 8 ÔÇó Number 3 ÔÇó pp.
161-179,2002