The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 09, 2012

Filed:

Sep. 21, 2011
Applicants:

Charles W. Hull, Santa Clarita, CA (US);

Rajeev Kulkarni, Charlotte, NC (US);

Medhi Mojdeh, Valencia, CA (US);

Hongqing V. Wang, Ft. Mill, SC (US);

John Corbin West, Mount Holly, NC (US);

Inventors:

Charles W. Hull, Santa Clarita, CA (US);

Rajeev Kulkarni, Charlotte, NC (US);

Medhi Mojdeh, Valencia, CA (US);

Hongqing V. Wang, Ft. Mill, SC (US);

John Corbin West, Mount Holly, NC (US);

Assignee:

3D Systems, Inc., Rock Hill, SC (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 19/00 (2012.01); G06F 7/38 (2006.01); B29C 47/00 (2006.01); B29C 35/04 (2006.01); G09G 5/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

Methods for generating supports () for parts () produced by solid freeform fabrication ('SFF') are disclosed. The method includes defining a plurality of layers (L) that make up the part, and for each layer, determining those regions (R) that require support. The method also includes merging the regions for the different layers (L) into one or more common regions that require support, and providing at least one support for each of the one or more common regions. The result is that fewer supports are used as compared to conventional SFF fabrication methods.


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