System Development of Processing Functional Gradient Material Part by Laser Rapid Prototyping

The primary goal of this research is the development of software system about functional gradient material process by laser. The system can be divided into several modules such as STL file loading and viewing, model slicing, filling path planning and process controlling. Path planning of FGM area is one key technology of system development because of one path must contain material information of functional gradient material. The material information planning methods of one-dimension and two-dimension functional gradient material were described respectively in this article. The material information of one-dimension FGM changes by layer along Z-axis, and the material information of two-dimension FGM changes by path in X-Y plane, especially, there is different change direction of FGM between inner loop and outer loop.