An efficient methodology for slicing NURBS surfaces using multi-step methods

Abstract

Slicing the geometric models has been a crucial computational task for various manufacturing processes in which significant academic research has been dedicated for its efficiency, accuracy, and generalizability. Meanwhile, the feasibility of direct slicing of the modeled geometric surfaces needs more investigation due to the demands for precise geometrical information in applications such as multi-axis machining, layer-based manufacturing and 3D printing, coordinate metrology, and robotics. The purpose of this study is to introduce a method to find the best patches of a non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) surface for a direct slicing procedure. Formulating the relation between the spatial coordinates on the surface and the surface parameters is created by a parameterization process. Adams–Bashforth multi-step method is used in this methodology to calculate the most accurate series of the slicing parameters. This paper provides the conception, implementation, and verification of the developed methodology. The resulting solution is very practical and beneficial for direct slicing of CAD models in additive manufacturing systems.