A data format providing side wall orientation and adaptive slicing for use in stepless rapid prototyping

Current Rapid Prototyping systems mainly use 2D layers building techniques that result in the 'staircase' effect on slanted surface. A new method has been developed to eliminate the 'staircase' effect and to improve the surface quality by extending the 2D layers to 3D layers building. In this approach, a new data format, Layer Transfer Interface (LTI), is introduced to generate layers having slanted side wall. It provides a faster slicing algorithm and accurate reconstruction of 3D objects. This format is independent of any particular RP machines. Furthermore, adaptive slicing has been achieved using this format and implemented on a fiveaxis milling RP system.