Neural Slicer for Multi-Axis 3D Printing

SIGGRAPH 2024 
(ACM Transaction on Graphics)

Tao Liu*, Tianyu Zhang*, Yongxue Chen, Yuming Huang, Charlie C.L. Wang†

*Joint first authors        
†Corresponding author

We introduce a novel neural network-based computational pipeline as a representation-agnostic slicer for multi-axis 3D printing. This advanced slicer can work on models with diverse representations and intricate topology. The approach involves employing neural networks to establish a deformation mapping, defining a scalar field in the space surrounding an input model. Isosurfaces are subsequently extracted from this field to generate curved layers for 3D printing. Creating a differentiable pipeline enables us to optimize the mapping through loss functions directly defined on the field gradients as the local printing directions. New loss functions have been introduced to meet the manufacturing objectives of support-free and strength reinforcement. Our new computation pipeline relies less on the initial values of the field and can generate slicing results with significantly improved performance. 

An overview of our slicing framework for generating curved layers that satisfy multiple objectives of multi-axis 3D printing.

The results of physical fabrication using curved layers generated by our framework.

Contact information: 
Tao Liu  (tao.liu@manchester.ac.uk)
Tianyu Zhang  (tianyu.zhang-10@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk)
Charlie C.L. Wang  (changling.wang@manchester.ac.uk)