Objective:
Generate slices from the input geometry to be used in SLS/SLM/DMLS
Applies to:
- Selective Laser Sintering
- Direct Metal Laser Sintering
- Selective Laser Melting
- Slicing
Procedure:
1. Generate slices for your geometry using one of the slicing blocks (How to create and export slices)
- Slice Body
- Slice Mesh
- Slice Graph
Note: We recommend using the printer software to generate a toolpath for the slices. When choosing the Tool pathing type, the software generates the Contour and Hatching based on the Slice output contour generated in the above step.
2. Generating the outer contour: The laser has a thickness. To account for the laser's thickness, we need to generate an offset to the contour. We would need to generate the number of outer contours based on the times we wish to scan the outer contour.
The Offset Slice Stack block offsets each slice of a Slice Stack outward or inward from its Frame’s Z axis.
3. Hatching: The process of filling each layer of the slice stack with hatch lines. Below are the available different hatching options.
- Hatch
- Hatch with Islands
- Hatch with Stripes
4. Merge Slice Stacks: The Merge Slice Stacks block merges a list of slice stacks into a single stack. Layers will be concatenated if they are of the same height. Otherwise, they will be inserted in order of height.
Note: Merge Slice Stack determines the order of printing. For example, Offset > Offset > Hatch would look like the below.
5. Export Slices: There are different options for exporting your slices to the printer.
- Export Slices to Point Data
- Export Slices to CLF
- Export Slices to CLI
- Export Slices to SSL
- Export Slices to Renishaw
- Export Slices to EOS
- Export Slices to Arcam ABF
- Export CLI Points
And that’s it! You’ve successfully prepared your slices for SLS/SLM/DMLS.
Are you still having issues? Contact the support team, and we’ll be happy to help!