Tool Path Planning Optimization for Multi-Tool Additive Manufacturing
Hieu Trung Bui, Harry A. Pierson, Sarah G. Nurre, Kelly M. Sullivan · Procedia Manufacturing · 2019
Additive manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized the way industries manufacture and prototype products. A significant drawback that prevents 3D printing from being widely implemented in large-scale production is cycle time. This issue has been improved by allowing multiple collaborating printheads to print different parts of the same object simultaneously. However, little formal research has been done to support the aforementioned approach, and current implementations have room for improvement in terms of both makespan and mechanical properties. A new toolpath optimization methodology is proposed in this research to fill this need. The objectives are to create a collision-free infill toolpath for each printhead while maintaining the mechanical performance and geometric accuracy of the printed object. The methodology utilizes the combination of tabu search and novel collision detection and resolution algorithms, TS-CCR. The performance of the TS-CCR is analyzed and compared with the current industry standard.