A 3D printing path optimizer based on Christofides algorithm

Abstract

Rapid prototyping and product customization have become more convenient with the emergence of 3D printing technologies. In extrusion deposition based 3D printing, objects are built by connecting many lines of filament, layer by layer. The efficiency of the printing process can be improved by optimizing motion paths of the printing nozzle. In this paper, a 3D printing path optimizer based on Christofides algorithm is proposed. Experiment results show that the proposed optimizer can significantly reduce the length of motion paths compared to a nearest neighbor-based optimizer using in consumer 3D printers.