Research On Some Key Problems For Fused Deposition Modeling Based On Embedded Linux System

Fused Deposition Modeling(FDM) is an important branch of Rapid PrototypingTechnology, it involves in Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, ElectricalEngineering and Computer Engineering. This article is about the development ofembedded upper computer of FDM system. The principal problems are including theembedded Debian porting, embedded client software and some key algorithms of tool pathplanning and optimization.First of all, as the core enabling technology of the system, on the basis of usingembedded Linux as system kernel and applying Qt as software development platform, amethod that using embedded Debian as file system is proposed. This method greatlydecreases the difficulties of configuring Qt, and is a feasible way for compiling Perlpackages on ARM, thus is the idea platform for the slicing engine written with Perl.The embedded client software for FDM is designed. The client software contains4modules, including STL file display module, G-code generating module, G-code displaymodule and control module. By using this method the control of FDM has been extendedto embedded platform, which could decreases equipment costing. Besides that, thismethod also realizes the touch screen control of FDM.Several types of tool paths for original personal computer platform are analyzed. Anovel Eight Point Star path with its planning algorithm is proposed. This method does notrely on original templates to calculate the next point, but calculates the next pointaccording to the fill area real time instead, which makes this method especially efficienton embedded platforms. As a matter of fact, this method decreases the time of fill path,which especially suit for products require short production time such as toys.In conclusion, the problems such as support packages of Perl could not run on Qtopiafile system, lack of prototype of embedded upper computer system, tool path generationand optimization, have been solved in the development of upper computer system of FDM,which has laid a certain amount of theoretical and practical basis towards embeddedcontrol system of FDM.