US 12,275,064 B2
Method of determining a tool path for controlling a printing tool
Peter King, Clayton South (AU); and Alejandro Vargas Uscategui, Clayton South (AU)
Assigned to COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION, Acton (AU)
Appl. No. 17/630,839
Filed by COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION, Australian Capital Territory (AU)
PCT Filed Jul. 30, 2020, PCT No. PCT/AU2020/050778
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 27, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/016666, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2019902709 (AU), filed on Jul. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0266342 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. B22F 10/85 (2021.01); B22F 10/25 (2021.01); B22F 10/38 (2021.01); B22F 12/00 (2021.01); B22F 12/53 (2021.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
CPC B22F 10/85 (2021.01) [B22F 10/25 (2021.01); B22F 10/38 (2021.01); B22F 12/222 (2021.01); B22F 12/224 (2021.01); B22F 12/53 (2021.01); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of determining a tool path for controlling a printing tool, the method comprising:
(a) receiving an input file containing data indicative of a three dimensional structure to be formed;
(b) dividing the three dimensional structure into a plurality of build layers, wherein build layers are separated in a build direction and each build layer extends laterally relative to the build direction, each build layer including an external contour defining the intersection of the build layer with an exterior surface of the three dimensional structure;
(c) defining a tool path which fills the three dimensional structure, wherein for at least two adjacent layers, the path includes partially filling one or more higher build layers along the build direction before entirely filling at least one lower build layer using a continuous and non-intersecting tool path; and
(d) generating a printing tool control algorithm including a series of control commands for controlling the printing tool to move along the tool path to form the three dimensional structure.