Development of a stereolithography (STL) slicing and G-code generation algorithm for an entry level 3-D printer

• Published in: 2013 Africon pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Brown, Andrew C., de Beer, Deon
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.09.2013
• Subjects: 3-D printer; additive manufacturing; Algorithm design and analysis; Computer numerical control; Design automation; Fabrication; G-code; Geometry; numerical control; Printers; Solid modeling; stereolithography; tool path
• ISBN: 1467359408; 9781467359405
• ISSN: 2153-0025
• DOI: 10.1109/AFRCON.2013.6757836

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a method that creates physical objects layer by layer. This paper presents a prototype STereoLithography (STL) slicing and tool path generation algorithm, which serves as a data front-end for an entry level three-dimensional (3-D) printer. Used mainly in AM, 3-D printers are devices that apply plastic, ceramic and metal, layer by layer, in all three dimensions on a flat surface. 3-D printers, unfortunately, cannot actually print an object without a special algorithm, required to create the computer numerical control (CNC) instructions (commonly known as G-code) for printing. Therefore, the STL slicing and tool path algorithm forms a critical component for AM. The purpose of this study was to develop an algorithm that is capable of processing and slicing an STL file or multiple STL files resulting in a tool path and finally generating a G-code file for an entry level 3-D printer.