A generative design method based on spline scanning for additive manufacturing

While additive manufacturing (AM) provides design flexibility, challenges persist in handling intricate freeform shapes, especially those laden with fine details. Conventional AM processes, such as slicing stereolithography (STL) format models, generating line segment toolpaths, and polyline-based printing, prove costly and compromise accuracy. This paper proposes a solution: the spline scanning generative design method. Utilizing spline patterns to construct smooth toolpaths directly, it enables seamless curved printing, significantly reducing computational expenses while maintaining high accuracy through spline control points. Experimental implementation, supported by dedicated algorithms, attests to its efficacy, emphasizing its potential for intricate freeform structure design and printing. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of CIRP. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)