Adaptation of Conventional Toolpath-Generation Software for Use in Curved-Layer Fused Deposition Modeling

Abstract

In 3D printing, the layered structure often results in artifacts. This effect becomes stronger for surfaces with a lower ramp angle. This effect can be mitigated by manufacturing parts with non-planar layers that fit the parts’ surface geometry. Using the open-source slicing software PrusaSlicer. an algorithm was developed to modify the slicer’s input and output data in a way that fits parts with low ramp angle surfaces. To achieve consistent part quality, all layers were modified to be printed in a non-planar way. The test results indicate that the proposed methods can significantly reduce surface roughness. Although the algorithm works well for parts with a flat base and vertical walls, it would need to be highly adapted to work for different part geometries. Additionally, compared to other algorithms used in Curved-Layer Fused Deposition Modeling (CLFDM), the changed layer structure introduces a changed visual appearance of parts.