Research on Fractal-Scanning Path for Arbitrary Boundary Layer in Layered Manufacturing

The fractal curve is proposed as a novel scanning path used in Layered Manufacturing. Aiming at a limitation that the fractal curve can only fill a square region, a method is developed to realize the trimming of fractal curve in arbitrary boundary layer by means of judging intersection points between parameterized arbitrary boundary and a FASS (space filling, self avoiding, simple and self similar) fractal curve. Accordingly, the related algorithm concerning with determining intersection points has been investigated according to the recursion feature of the fractal curve, and in the process of the fractal curve traversed, the rule of judging intersection points is ascertained as well, so that the laser scanning beam can “walk” along the fractal curve inside the desired boundary, and arbitrary contour components are fabricated.