Multilayer fiber reinforcement design for 3d printing

Abstract

According to aspects, provided is a method for displaying a three-dimensional geometry of a part to be 3D printed, comprising receiving the geometry of a part sliced into shells or layers, displaying the shells or layers, displaying, for a shell or layer, a representation of a distribution of a isotropic fill material, displaying, for an anisotropic fill subset of the set of shells or layers, a representation of a distribution of an anisotropic fill material having an anisotropic characteristic oriented relative to a trajectory of an anisotropic fill tool path, receiving a selection, from among the displayed shells or layers, of an editing subset, the editing subset including part of the anisotropic fill subset, and regenerating, for a shell or layer of the editing subset, one of a second representation of a distribution of isotropic fill material and a second representation of a distribution of anisotropic fill material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine implemented method for displaying a three-dimensional geometry of a part to be 3D printed on a display, comprising:
 receiving the three-dimensional geometry of a part to be 3D printed sliced into shells or layers;   displaying the shells or layers of the three-dimensional geometry of the part to be 3D printed on a display;   displaying, for a shell or layer, a representation of a distribution of a substantially isotropic fill material;   displaying, for an anisotropic fill subset of the set of shells or layers, a representation of a distribution of a substantially anisotropic fill material having an anisotropic characteristic oriented relative to a trajectory of an anisotropic fill tool path;   receiving a selection, from among the displayed shells or layers defining the portion of the 3D printed part, of an editing subset of shells or layers, the editing subset including at least part of the anisotropic fill subset; and   regenerating, for a shell or layer of the editing subset, one of a second representation of a distribution of isotropic fill material different from the first representation of a distribution of isotropic fill material and a second representation of a distribution of anisotropic fill material different from the first representation of a distribution of anisotropic fill material.   
     
     
         2 . The machine implemented method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying an orthogonal bar together with the displayed shell, the orthogonal bar displayed parallel to an edge of the display, the orthogonal bar including the representation of a distribution of a substantially isotropic fill material and the representation of a distribution of the substantially anisotropic fill material.   
     
     
         3 . The machine implemented method according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 displaying indicia indicating the span of a first generation rule common to a first range of shells or layers of the three-dimensional geometry of the part to be 3D printed.   
     
     
         4 . The machine implemented method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 in response to a predetermined condition being met, ceasing to display at least one of, while continuing to display at least one remaining one of, the representation of the distribution of a substantially isotropic fill material, the representation of the distribution of substantially anisotropic fill material, or the indicia indicating the span of the first generation rule common to the first range of shells or layers of the three-dimensional geometry of the part to be 3D printed.   
     
     
         5 . The machine implemented method according to  claim 3 , further comprising: wherein multiple indicia indicating the extents of a plurality of generation rules are displayed in a mutually exclusive manner without overlapping. 
     
     
         6 . The machine implemented method according to  claim 3 , wherein the multiple indicia include adjustment handles indicating the extents of the plurality of generation rules. 
     
     
         7 . The machine implemented method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 detecting a movement of a pointer in a direction relative to the display and/or an actuation of the pointer; and at least one of:   in response to detecting the movement and/or the actuation of the pointer, changing the first generation rule common to the first range of shells or layers to a different, second generation rule common to the first range of shells or layers, and   in response to detecting the movement and/or the actuation of the pointer, changing the displayed indicia indicating the extent of the first generation rule so that change in the extent of the first range is one of highlighted or displayed.