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https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyslm

PySLM: A Python Library for 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyslm

3d-printing additive-manufacturing dmls hatching python slicer slm trimesh

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PySLM: A Python Library for 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing

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README 

        
PySLM Python Library for Selective Laser Melting and Additive Manufacturing

=============================================================================



.. https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyslm/raw/dev/docs/images/pyslm.png



.. image:: https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyslm/raw/dev/docs/images/pyslm.png

    :alt:  PySLM - Library for Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing including Selective Laser Melting

.. image:: https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyslm/actions/workflows/pythonpublish.yml/badge.svg

    :target: https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyslm/actions

.. image:: https://readthedocs.org/projects/pyslm/badge/?version=latest

    :target: https://pyslm.readthedocs.io/en/latest/?badge=latest

    :alt: Documentation Status

.. image:: https://badge.fury.io/py/PythonSLM.svg

    :target: https://badge.fury.io/py/PythonSLM

.. image:: https://static.pepy.tech/personalized-badge/pythonslm?period=total&units=international_system&left_color=black&right_color=orange&left_text=Downloads

 :target: https://pepy.tech/project/pythonslm



PySLM is a Python library for supporting development and generation of build files in Additive Manufacturing or 3D

Printing, in particular Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) platforms typically used

in both academia and industry. The core capabilities aim to include slicing, hatching and support generation and

providing an interface to the binary build file formats available for platforms. The library is built of core classes

which may provide the basic functionality to generate the scan vectors used on systems and also be used as building

blocks to prototype and develop new algorithms.



This library provides design tools for use in Additive Manufacturing including the slicing, hatching, support generation

and related analysis tools (e.g. overhang analysis, build-time estimation).



PySLM is built-upon `Trimesh `_ v4.0 for mesh handling and manipulation

and the polygon clipping and offsetting provided by `Clipper 2 `_ library

via `Pyclipr `_, which together leveraged to provide the slicing and

manipulation of polygons, such as offsetting and clipping of scan vectors used.



The aims of this library is to provide a useful set of tools for prototyping novel pre-processing approaches to aid

research and development of Additive Manufacturing processes, amongst an academic environment. The tools aim to

compliment experimental and analytical studies that can enrich scientific understanding of the process. This includes

data-fusion from experiments and sensors within the process but also enhancing the capability of the process by

providing greater control over the process. Furthermore, the open nature of the library intends to inform and educate

those interested in the underlying algorithms of preparing toolpaths in Additive Manufacturing.



Current Features

******************



PySLM is building up a core feature set aiming to provide the basic blocks for primarily generating the scan paths and

additional design features used for AM and 3D printing systems typically (SLM/SLS/SLA) systems which consolidate material

using a single/multi point exposure by generating a series of scan vectors in a region.



**Slicing:**



* Slicing of triangular meshes supported via the `Trimesh `_ library.

* Simplification of 2D layer boundaries

* Bitmap slicing for SLA, DLP, Inkjet Systems



**Hatching:**

The following operations are provided as a convenience to aid the development of novel scan strategies in Selective

Laser Melting:



* Offsetting of contours and boundaries

* Trimming of lines and hatch vectors (sequentially ordered and sorted)



The following scan strategies have been implemented as reference for AM platforms:



* Standard 'alternating' hatching

* Stripe scan strategy

* Island or checkerboard scan strategy



**Support Structure Generation**



PySLM provides underlying tools and a framework for identifying and generating support structures suitable for SLM

and other AM processes. Tools are provided identifying overhang areas based on their mesh and connectivity

information, but also using a projection based method. The projection method takes advantage of GPU GLSL shaders for

providing an efficient raytracing approach. Using the `Manifold `_ boolean CSG

library, an algorithm for extracting precise definition of volumetric support regions. These regions are segmented

based on self-intersections with the mesh. From these volumes, porous grid-truss structure suitable for SLM based

process can be generated.



.. image:: https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyslm/raw/dev/docs/images/pyslmSupportStructures.png

    :alt: The tools available in PySLM for locating overhang regions and support regions for 3D Printing and

          generating volumetric block supports alongside grid-truss based support structures suitable for SLM.

    :width: 80%

    :align: center



* Extracting overhang surfaces from meshes with optional connectivity information

* Projection based block and truss support structure generation

    * 3D intersected support volumes are generated from overhang regions using OpenGL ray-tracing approach

    * Generate a truss grid using support volumes suitable for Metal AM processes

    * Perforated teeth for support connection

    * Exact support volume generation using `Manifold `_ CSG library



**Visualisation:**



The laser scan vectors can be visualised using ``Matplotlib``. The order of the scan vectors can be shown to aid

development of the scan strategies, but additional information such length, laser parameter information associated

with each scan vector can be shown.



.. image:: https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyslm/raw/dev/docs/images/pyslmVisualisationTools.png

    :alt: The tools available in PySLM for visualising analyisng collections of scan vectors used in SLM.

    :width: 80%

    :align: center



* Scan vector plots (including underlying BuildStyle information and properties)

* Exposure point visualisation

* Exposure (effective heat) map generation

* Overhang visualisation



**Analysis:**



* Build time estimation tools

    * Based on scan strategy and geometry

    * Time estimation based on LayerGeometry

* Iterators (Scan Vector and Exposure Points) useful for simulation studies



**Export to Machine Files:**



Currently the capability to enable translation to commercial machine build platforms is being providing through a

supporting library called `libSLM `_ . This is a c++ library to enable efficient

import and export across various commercial machine build files. With support from individuals the following machine

build file formats have been developed.



* Renishaw MTT (**.mtt**),

* DMG Mori Realizer (**.rea**),

* CLI/CLI+ & .ilt (**.cli**/**.ilt**),

* EOS SLI formats (**.sli**)

* SLM Solutions (**.slm**).



If you would like to support implementing a custom format, please raise a `request `_.

For further information, see the latest `release notes `_.



Installation

*************

Installation is currently supported on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux environments. The pre-requisites for using PySLM

can be installed via PyPi and/or Anaconda distribution.



.. code:: bash



    conda install -c conda-forge shapely, Rtree, networkx, scikit-image

    conda install trimesh



If you are interested using the support generation module, there are additional dependencies that

are required to be installed. These are not required for the core functionality of PySLM such as slicing and hatching.

These require a working OpenGL environment to work via `vispy `_ - the PyQt5 module provides the

OpenGL backend for this currently, which is currently supported across all major platforms.



.. code:: bash



    pip install vispy pyqt5 triangle pyclipr manifold3d mapbox-earcut



Installation of PySLM can be performed using pre-built python packages using the PyPi repository. Additionally to

interface with commercial L-PBF systems, the user can choose to install libSLM. Note, the user should contact the author

to request machine build file translators, as this cannot be installed currently without having the machine build file

translators available.



.. code:: bash



    pip install PythonSLM



Alternatively, PySLM may be compiled directly from source. For PySLM version (>v0.6) the entire library are now written

exclusively in Python, therefore a seperate compiler infrastructure (cython) is not required.



.. code:: bash



    git clone https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyslm.git && cd ./pyslm

    python setup.py install



Usage

******

A basic example below, shows how relatively straightforward it is to generate a single layer from a STL mesh which

generates a the hatch infill using a Stripe Scan Strategy typically employed on some commercial systems to limit the

maximum scan vector length generated in a region.



.. code:: python



    import pyslm

    import pyslm.visualise

    from pyslm import hatching as hatching



    # Imports the part and sets the geometry to an STL file (frameGuide.stl)

    solidPart = pyslm.Part('myFrameGuide')

    solidPart.setGeometry('../models/frameGuide.stl')



    # Set te slice layer position

    z = 23.



    # Create a StripeHatcher object for performing any hatching operations

    myHatcher = hatching.StripeHatcher()

    myHatcher.stripeWidth = 5.0 # [mm]



    # Set the base hatching parameters which are generated within Hatcher

    myHatcher.hatchAngle = 10 # [°]

    myHatcher.volumeOffsetHatch = 0.08 # [mm]

    myHatcher.spotCompensation = 0.06 # [mm]

    myHatcher.numInnerContours = 2

    myHatcher.numOuterContours = 1



    # Slice the object at Z and get the boundaries

    geomSlice = solidPart.getVectorSlice(z)



    # Perform the hatching operations

    layer = myHatcher.hatch(geomSlice)



    # Plot the layer geometries generated

    pyslm.visualise.plot(layer, plot3D=False, plotOrderLine=True) # plotArrows=True)



The result of the script output is shown here



.. image:: https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyslm/raw/dev/docs/images/stripe_scan_strategy_example.png

   :width: 50%

   :align: center

   :alt:  PySLM - Illustration of a Stripe Scan Strategy employed in 3D printing



For further guidance please look at documented examples are provided in

`examples `_ .