Research On Some Key Technologies Of FDM Rapid Prototyping

This article is about some research works in some key algorithms on data pre-processing of FDM rapid prototyping system. And a software module about data pre-processing algorithms of FDM is developed in the PowerRP software console.Support generation is one of the key technologies of FDM system. It directly decides whether the product is made successfully or not. And it also has an important effect on surface quality of the product. It is put forward an algorithm of support automatic generation based on line scan. Using line-scan to approach each slice of the product, the algorithm changes the complex 2-D Boolean operation into simple line operation. The area which need support structure is obtained through union and minus operation of scan lines. It is proved that no any place which needs support structure is missed. What's more, it is propitious to building machining roads.Machining roads namely is moving track of the nozzle. Proper machining roads can reduce machining time and improve surface quality of the product. A Road generation algorithm based on character-selected method is brought forward. The algorithm divides roads into several sub-areas and optimizes them at the same time. X or Y direction machining roads on every other layer is achieved. It is proved by experiments that the algorithm is correct.The FDM system deals with the reading & saving of machining data on a large scale. It is necessary to define a file format suitable for FDM system. A software module for data storage, namely, ZIF file format, is developed. The machining roads data are stored in this file format and can be machined later. The module is so strongly transplantable that it can be applied to FDM & SLA system. And it has been checked up on SLA system.