Best Paper Award

SIGGRAPH Asia 2025

ACM Transaction on Graphics

Curve-Based Slicer for Multi-Axis DLP 3D Printing

Chengkai Dai^1* Tao Liu^2* Dezhao Guo³ Binzhi Sun^1,3 Guoxin Fang^1,3 Yeung Yam^1,3 Charlie C.L. Wang^2†

¹Centre for Perceptual and Interactive Intelligence ²The University of Manchester ³The Chinese University of Hong Kong
^*Equal Contribution
^†Corresponding Author

Paper Code (Coming Soon) Dataset (Coming Soon)

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel curve-based slicing method for generating planar layers with dynamically varying orientations in digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. Our approach effectively addresses key challenges in DLP printing, such as regions with large overhangs and staircase artifacts, while preserving its intrinsic advantages of high resolution and fast printing speeds. We formulate the slicing problem as an optimization task, in which parametric curves are computed to define both the slicing layers and the model partitioning through their tangent planes. These curves inherently define motion trajectories for the build platform and can be optimized to meet critical manufacturing objectives, including collision-free motion and floating-free deposition. We validate our method through physical experiments on a robotic multi-axis DLP printing setup, demonstrating that the optimized curves can robustly guide smooth, high-quality fabrication of complex geometries.

The tangent planes of the parametric curve are used as planar layers for DLP printing.

Pipeline

After preparing the computational domain as a set of sample points Ω for the solid M and a set of surface sample point Ψ, our framework is based on the adaptively applied steps of optimization and splitting. (a) Starting from a straight curve as the trajectory of DLP printing, we optimize the trajectory by changing the positions of its control points (black dots). When critical manufacturing requirement such as floating-free (with floating point highlighted by arrows), the curve is split into two curves to be further optimized (b). Note that the region partition defined by the curves are co-optimized jointly with the curves as trajectories. When hard constraints are still not satisfied in the region covered by c₁(t), c₁(t) is further adaptively subdivided into two -- i.e., (c) there are three curves in total to be optimized to obtain the slicing result (d). The resultant curves define the trajectories of motion, which can be converted into the execution of robotic system by the computation of inverse kinematics to fabricate the final result (e).

Results

Bunny

Yoga

Woman

Hook

Toroidal-Tubes

Fertility

Physical Fabrication

Physical fabrication results demonstrating the effectiveness of our curve-based slicing approach across various complex geometries.

Downloads

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Paper

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Code (Coming Soon)

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Dataset (Coming Soon)

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Acknowledgement

The authors gratefully acknowledge Professor A. John Hart and Nicholas S. Diaco of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for their valuable comments on DLP printing. This research was supported by the InnoHK initiative of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Chair Professorship Fund at the University of Manchester and UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Fellowship Grant (Ref.#: EP/X032213/1).

Citation

@article{10.1145/3763352, 
author = {Dai, Chengkai and Tao, Liu and Guo, Dezhao and Sun, Binzhi and Fang, Guoxin and Yam, Yeung and Wang, Charlie C. L.}, 
title = {Curve-Based Slicer for Multi-Axis DLP 3D Printing}, 
year = {2025}, 
volume = {44}, 
number = {6}, 
journal = {ACM Trans. Graph.}, 
month = dec, 
articleno = {194}, 
numpages = {14} }