Materialise N.v.

Gerald Eggers

Kurt Renap

Tom Cluckers

Tom Craeghs

Johan Troukens

The present invention is directed to an improved method for supporting an object made by means of stereo lithography or any other rapid prototype production method. The generation of the support begins by determining the region that requires support in each layer of the object and defines a number of support points in this region. In a next step, a support mesh is generated connected to the object using these support points. The present invention also discloses different techniques that reduce superfluous edges to further optimize the support mesh. Finally, a support is generated from this support mesh. The present invention may facilitate the generation of supports data by employing more automation and less user analysis.

Support structure for an object made by means of a rapid prototype production method

This disclosure relates to a hybrid support system for supporting an object formed by three dimensional printing. In some embodiments, a hybrid support system includes one or more volume support structures, a first volume support structure of the one or more volume support structures being coupled to a base plate and to a first portion of the object. The hybrid support system further includes a partially solidified support structure coupled to a second portion of the object. The hybrid support system further includes one or more reinforcement support structures, a first reinforcement support structure of the one or more reinforcement support structures being coupled to the base plate and to at least one of a portion of the partially solidified support structure and a third portion of the object.

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Oud-Heverlee, Belgium

Gerald Eggers