Abstract: A method of determining a type of support structure for a three-dimensional (3D) object formed by additive manufacturing includes receiving solid model of the 3D object; performing a geometric analysis of the solid model to identify a region of the 3D object requiring a support structure; performing stress and warping analyses of the solid model at the region so identified, including one or more heuristic algorithms applied to the solid model, and excluding finite element analysis of a corresponding finite element model of the 3D object; selecting a type of support structure to place at the region so identified, the type of support structure being selected based on the stress and warping analyses so performed; and generating a shell of the 3D object based on the solid model, and including the support structure at the region so identified and of the type so selected.

Abstract: A system is configured to form a three dimensional (3D) object having multiple zones within the three dimensional object. The zones differ from each other according to system operational parameters. The system is operable to perform a method including: (1) receiving a solid model file, (2) generating a shell of the 3D object based on the file, (3) dividing the shell into zones, (4) defining or selecting parameters for forming the zones, (5) forming layer data defining layers of the 3D object, and creating a tool path from the layer data including merging layer data for the zones.

Abstract: A method of determining a type of support structure for a three-dimensional (3D) object formed by additive manufacturing includes receiving solid model of the 3D object; performing a geometric analysis of the solid model to identify a region of the 3D object requiring a support structure; performing stress and warping analyses of the solid model at the region so identified, including one or more heuristic algorithms applied to the solid model, and excluding finite element analysis of a corresponding finite element model of the 3D object; selecting a type of support structure to place at the region so identified, the type of support structure being selected based on the stress and warping analyses so performed; and generating a shell of the 3D object based on the solid model, and including the support structure at the region so identified and of the type so selected.

Abstract: A system is configured to form a three dimensional (3D) object having multiple zones within the three dimensional object. The zones differ from each other according to system operational parameters. The system is operable to perform a method including: (1) receiving a solid model file, (2) generating a shell of the 3D object based on the file, (3) dividing the shell into zones, (4) defining or selecting parameters for forming the zones, (5) forming layer data defining layers of the 3D object, and creating a tool path from the layer data including merging layer data for the zones.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a workstation (26) which is configured to receive a toolpath request and to generate a toolpath in response to the toolpath request. The workstation is also configured to divide the toolpath request into multiple service reel quests and to output the service requests over a local network (62). The apparatus also includes a toolpath calculation accelerator (80) which is coupled to receive at least one of the service requests from the workstation via the local network. The accelerator is configured to process each received service request so as to generate a calculation result, and to transfer the calculation result to the workstation via the local network for incorporation of the calculation result into the toolpath generated by the workstation.