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Problems/errors in STL file

Factors Influencing Accuracy

• The accuracy of a RP process is difficult to predict as it is a
function of many different factors, some of which can be
interdependent.
• The factors that most influence RP process accuracy can be
considered in three groups [Pham and Ji, 2000].
• The first group includes factors causing errors during the
data preparation stage such as
– STL file generation,
– model slicing and
– part build direction.
• The second group includes factors influencing the part
accuracy during the build stage such as process specific
parameters.
• The third group of factors is directly related to the part
finishing techniques employed.

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Requirements of STL file

1. Data about triangle vertices must be stored in the file
in an ordered fashion to identify interior or exterior
surfaces. A clockwise vertex ordering defines an
interior surface, and an anti-clockwise ordering the
exterior surface. The right hand rule is applied.

2. A triangle must share exactly two common vertices

with each adjacent triangle. This is known as the
vertex-to-vertex rule.

Rule 1

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Rule 2

UME847 Rapid Prototyping

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Introduction

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Introduction

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Two Facets Sharing a Common Edge

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When a degenerate facet such as the one shown in

Figure is encountered, vector algebra is applied.

The following steps are taken:

(1) Edge a-c is converted into vectors,
(c1i + c2j + c3k) - (a1i + a2j + a3k) (1)
(2) (i) Collinear vectors are checked.
x = ac ⇒ x1i + x2j + x3k; (2)
y = ce ⇒ y1i + y2j + y3k; (3)
(ii) By mathematical definition, the two vectors x and y are said to
be collinear if there exists scalars s and t, both non-zero, such
that:
sx + ty = 0 (4)
But when applied in a computer, it is only necessary to have:
sx + ty ≤ ε, where ε is a definable tolerance. (5)

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(3) If the two vectors are found to be collinear vectors, the

position of vertex e is generated.
(4) (i) Facet A is split into two facets (see Figure). The two
facets are generated using the three vertices in facet A.
First facet vertices are: a, b, e
Second facet vertices are: b, c, e
(ii) The orientation is checked.
(iii) New facets are stored in a temporary file.

(5) Search and delete facet A from original file.

(6) (i) The two new facets are stored in the
original file.
(ii) Data are deleted from the temporary file.

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Overlapping Facets

• The condition of overlapping facets can be caused by

errors introduced by inconsistent numerical round-
off. This problem can be resolved through vertex
merging where vertices within a predetermined
numerical round-off tolerance of one another can be
merged into just one vertex.

• It is recommended that this merging of vertices be

done before the searching of the model for gaps.
This will eliminate unnecessary detection of
erroneous edges and save substantial computational
time expended in checking whether the edges can be
used to generate another facet.

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Overlapping Facets

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Thank You

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