Variable Thickness Ruled Edge Slice Generation and Three-Dimensional Graphical Error Visualization

This paper describes a simple variable thickness ruled edged slicing algorithm that produces slices with zero integrated error. In its present state, the algorithm requires presampled data to be taken from the STL file. Data points are extracted in a cylindrical coordinate system giving values ofradius at regular intervals AS and Az. Using this data, the algorithm creates slices based on averaging ofthe data points and the slope ofline segments connecting them. Error based constraints are used to determine slice thickness. A three-dimensional visualization technique using color contour plots (representing error) on the surface ofthe prototyped model provides a means of evaluating the accuracy of the prototyped part.