An orientation-field based algorithm for free-form material extrusion

• Published in: Additive manufacturing Vol. 59; p. 103064
• Main Authors: Murugan, Varun, Alaimo, Gianluca, Auricchio, Ferdinando, Marconi, Stefania
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2022
• Subjects: Curvilinear paths; Material extrusion; Orientation fields; Slicing; Curvilinear paths; Material extrusion; Slicing; Orientation fields
• ISSN: 2214-8604; 2214-7810
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addma.2022.103064

Material extrusion is a popular additive manufacturing process that gained prominence in various industrial applications. The current work addresses the limitations of the existing slicing software in producing parts with customized filament layouts. A new filament deposition algorithm that produces filament paths taking as input arbitrary point-wise orientation fields is presented. Like slicing software, it can control various process parameters, including extrusion width, layer height, filament spacing, number of layers, printing and travel speeds, and produces G-Code instructions. Capabilities of the algorithm are presented by producing parts with both partial and maximum infill and parts with a multi-oriented layer stacking sequence. The results show that the algorithm can print parts with filaments oriented along the input orientation field at different infills, thus making this contribution a potential tool for many applications that demand customized filament placement. [Display omitted] •A new 3D printing algorithm to extrude filaments along a given orientation field.•The algorithm controls all crucial 3D printing parameters like a slicing software.•Readily 3D-printable G-code instructions are produced as output.•The algorithm can be employed for 3D printing optimized anisotropic structures.