IPC分类号：
B29C64/118 | B29C64/30 | B29C35/16 | B29C64/386 | B22F12/53 | B22F10/322 | B22F10/80 | B22F12/20 | B22F12/70 | B22F10/18 | B33Y10/00 | B33Y40/00 | B33Y50/00
当前申请(专利权)人：
ULTIMAKER B.V.
原始申请(专利权)人：
ULTIMAKER B.V.
当前申请(专利权)人地址：
Watermolenweg 2,4191 PN Geldermalsen NL
发明人：
HEIJMANS, TOM | VAN KESSEL, JAKOBUS JOSEPHUS
代理人：
NEDERLANDSCH OCTROOIBUREAU
摘要：
A method of generating print instructions for an additive manufacturing system is described. The method comprising receiving a digital 3D model, dividing the 3D model in a plurality of layers, and determining for each layer one or more print lines for creating the layers with the additive manufacturing system. Then, at a number of locations along the one or more print lines, a degree of contact is determined between a new print line (6) and old print lines (5,8) representing previously deposited traces. For each of the locations a degree of forced convection is calculated, the degree of forced convection being a function of the degree of contact. Next, print instructions are generated comprising a forced convection parameter which value depends on the calculated degree of forced convection, the forced convection parameter being a parameter instructing the additive manufacturing system to create a desired air flow during printing.
技术问题语段：
The patent text is about a method of 3D printing called fused deposition modelling (FDM). The technical problem addressed in the text is the current static settings used by slicing software programs in determining the level of air flow during manufacturing.
技术功效语段：
The present invention provides a method for generating print instructions for an additive manufacturing system that results in better quality printed objects. The method involves determining a degree of contact between new print lines and previously deposited traces, and using this information to adjust the degree of forced convection, which is a parameter that controls the air flow during printing. By dynamically adjusting the degree of forced convection, the method ensures that the cooling behavior is more similar for each trace, resulting in more homogeneous material properties of the final product. The method is simple and fast, and can be implemented using a thermal model that takes into account material properties such as heat capacity, enthalpy of crystallization, and thermal conductivity. The method can be performed using a computing device or computer program product.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A method of generating print instructions for an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- receiving a digital 3D model;
- dividing the 3D model in a plurality of layers;
- determining for each layer one or more print lines for creating the layers with the additive manufacturing system;
- determining, at a number of locations along the one or more print lines, a degree of contact between a new print line and old print lines representing previously deposited traces;
- calculating for each of the locations a degree of forced convection, the degree of forced convection being a function of the degree of contact;
- generating the print instructions comprising a forced convection parameter which value depends on the calculated degree of forced convection, the forced convection parameter being a parameter instructing the additive manufacturing system to create a desired air flow during printing.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining of a degree of contact comprises:
- determining at each of the locations a cross section of the new print line and old print lines directly neighbouring the new print line, the cross section being oriented perpendicular to a print direction of the new print line;
- calculating a length of a contact line between the new print line and the old print lines at the cross section;
- dividing the calculated length by a circumferential length of the new print line to obtain the degree of contact.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the degree of forced convection is inversely proportional to the degree of contact at the respective locations.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
- dividing the one or more print lines of each layer into a plurality of voxels, each voxel representing a 3D part of a print line;
- simulating the print process wherein consecutive voxels are added to the new print line, and wherein, for a latest added voxel, a cooling curve as a function of time is determined using a thermal model;
- determining, for the latest added voxel, the degree of forced convection that results in a change of the cooling curve to, or at least towards, a target cooling curve.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the thermal model comprises the location and dimension of each voxel, a temperature difference between the latest added voxel and its
neighbouring voxels, and respective contact surfaces between the latest added voxel and its neighbouring voxels.
6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the voxels vary in size depending on the size and shape of the print lines.
7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the forced convection parameter depends on the calculated degree of forced convection, only at those layers of the 3D model that are to be printed at or higher than a predetermined height H.
8. A computing device comprising one or more processing units, the one or more processing units being arranged to perform the method according to any one the preceding claims.
9. A computer program product comprising code embodied on computer-readable storage and configured so as when run on one or more processing units to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-7.
10. A method of printing a three-dimensional (3D) object with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- receiving (121) print instructions, wherein the print instructions comprise values for a forced convection parameter;
- depositing (122) a plurality of layers, wherein each layer comprises one or more traces;
- adjusting (123), at a number of locations along the one or more traces, a degree of forced convection, the degree of forced convection being dependent on a degree of contact between a new trace and previously deposited traces at each of the locations.
11 . The method according to claim 10, wherein the degree of forced convection is adjusted by way of adjusting an air flow of one or more ventilators.