Adaptive rapid prototyping/manufacturing for functionally graded material-based biomedical models

In this paper, research on developing adaptive rapid prototyping/ manufacturing (RP/M) algorithms for functionally graded material (FGM)-based biomedical models is reported. Non-uniform rational B-spline and FGM-based features have been proposed to present the models. Innovative algorithms for tool path optimization in RP/M have been developed, including: (1) a mixed tool path algorithm to generate contour/offset tool paths to represent varying material composition along the boundary of each sliced layer of a model and zigzag tool paths to present the internal area of a single material to simplify computing and processing and (2) adaptive algorithms to control the RP/M nozzle/print head to minimize the build time of each sliced layer according to the geometrical characteristics of the model. Case studies of FGM-based biomedical models have been used to verify and demonstrate the performance of the research in terms of algorithm effectiveness.