SURFACE ANGLE MODEL EVALUATION PROCESS FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

摘要

A method (10) for printing a three-dimensional part (24) in an additive manufacturing process, which includes calculating surface plane angles (30) relative to one or more of the coordinate axes as a function of surface area of the surface geometry, calculating a build score (32) for each coordinate axis as a function of the calculated surface plane angles (30), and selecting an orientation (64) for the digital model in the coordinate system based at least in part on the calculated build scores (32). The build scores (32) preferably predict which part orientations (64) are likely to provide good surface quality for the printed three-dimensional part.