Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have been widely used to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) objects quickly and cost-effectively. However, building parts consisting of complex geometries with curvatures can be a challenging process for the traditional AM system whose capability is restricted to planar layered printing. Using six degrees-of-freedom (DOF) industrial robots for AM overcomes this limitation by allowing the material deposition to take place on nonplanar surfaces. In this paper, we present trajectory planning algorithms for 3D printing using nonplanar material deposition. Trajectory parameters are selected to avoid collision with printing surface and satisfy robot constraints. We have implemented our approach by using a 6DOF robot arm. The complex 3D structures with various curvatures were successfully fabricated with a good surface finish.
Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have been widely used to fabricate 3D objects quickly and cost-effectively. However, building parts consisting of complex geometries with multiple curvatures can be a challenging process for the traditional AM system whose capability is restricted to planar-layered printing. Using 6-DOF industrial robots for AM overcomes this limitation by allowing materials to deposit on non-planar surfaces with desired tool orientation. In this paper, we present collision-free trajectory planning for printing using non-planar deposition. Trajectory parameters subject to surface curvature are properly controlled to avoid any collision with printing surface. We have implemented our approach by using a 6-DOF robot arm. The complex 3D structures with various curvatures were successfully fabricated, while avoiding any failures in joint movement, holding comparable build time and completing with a satisfactory surface finish.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.