Kanada, Y., 2014 International Symposium on Flexible Automation (ISFA 2014), 2014-7.
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Abstract: Although 3D objects to be printed may have “natural direction” or intended direction for printing, most 3D printing methods slice and print them horizontally. This causes staircase effect on the surface and prevents expression of the natural or intended direction; that is, the natural direction and the printing direction contradict. This paper proposes a methodology for direction-specified 3D printing and methods for designing, partitioning, and printing 3D objects with specified printing direction using a fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer. By using these methods, printed objects do not only have unnatural steps but also enables to express the direction explicitly. By developing and evaluating a set of methods based on this methodology, chained rings of an Olympic symbol are designed, partitioned, and printed by a delta-type 3D printer, which is cheaper but can move quick vertically. The rings were well designed and printed rings look well. Although there are still several unsolved problems including difficulty in deciding part partition points and weakness in the partition points, this methodology will probably enable new applications of 3D printing, such as 3D calligraphy.
Introduction to this research theme: 3D shape formation technologies