Stable Equilibrium Optimization For 3D Printed Objects

3D printing, known as additive manufacturing, is a technology which is based on CAD design data and uses the discrete material (liquid, powder, etc.) to manufacture object layer by layer.3D printing equipment and materials developed in the early 1980s. As the price of materials and equipment fall gradually, as well as the invalid of patents, 3D printing becomes popular around 2010, catching people’s eyes. The news about 3D printed cars,3D printed pistols,3D printed houses shocked people time by time, which make the technology become the most popular technology currently.The first chapter conducts a comprehensive analysis and summary on this technol-ogy, introduces the principle, process, advantanges, disadvantages, the classification and the application.The second chapter summarizes the research related with 3D printingin the field of computer graphics. As how to ensure the strength of the printed object, it suggests methods, like inner hollow, local thickening, adding support parts; In terms of stability, we achieve stability purposes mainly by changing the internal distribution of objects, and deforming the outer surface of an object; We present tree-shaped, bridge-shaped, cylinder-shaped support to ensure successful printing, using a minimum of material support and easy to remove at the same time; We also summarize on the problems like how to save cost, how to print out a object with the same volume with a minimum of material, and how to break the limit on the volume of 3D printer to print out larger objects.We focus the stability of 3D printed objects in the third chapter, and presented our own method. First of all, the 3D digital model is constructed by 3D modeling software, and then manufactured via 3D printer. Virtual environment with no physical rules makes the model stand with diverse gesture, but failed in the real world. We put forward stable equilibrium optimization problem for 3D printed object. To solve this problem, we pro-pose stable equilibrium optimization algorithm based on the principle of the tumbler, which can make the object achieve stable equilibrium. Specifically, voxelize the object iteratively from horizontal and vertical direction voxel by voxel, obtaining the best carv-ing strategy; for some exceptions, continue to modify the bottom within a small range to achieve stable equilibrium. This novel heuristic carving strategy avoids possible prob-lems such as suspension, self-intersection etc.; Modification of the bottom part within the small range also ensures that the shape of the object is basically unchanged. The feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated by several examples of successful optimization.The last chapter discusses and summarizes the research of 3D computer graphics, guessing that rapid 3D printing, rapid 3D modeling ect. will be studied more in the future. Also the future development of 3D printing technology were prospected.