Rapid 3D-Printing Workflow
This technology improves how certain 3D printers (specifically fused filament fabrication, or FFF printers) decide where and how to move while printing an object. Instead of strictly printing one full layer at a time, the system analyzes the full 3D shape of the object and calculates a more efficient path for the printer’s nozzle. By optimizing movement in three dimensions and avoiding unnecessary “travel” motions when no material is being deposited, the method significantly reduces wasted movement. In testing, it cut non-printing travel by about 60%, resulting in faster print times without requiring new hardware and without sacrificing print quality.
The Problem
Traditional FFF 3D printing forces the printer to complete every feature in one horizontal layer before moving upward. For complex objects, this creates a lot of “extrusionless travel,” where the print head moves around without actually depositing material. That wasted motion adds time, increases wear on equipment, and can affect surface quality. As a result, print jobs take longer and are less efficient than they could be, creating a bottleneck for both small-scale users and industrial 3D printing operations.
The Solution
This technology improves how certain 3D printers (specifically fused filament fabrication, or FFF printers) decide where and how to move while printing an object. Instead of strictly printing one full layer at a time, the system analyzes the full 3D shape of the object and calculates a more efficient path for the printer’s nozzle. By optimizing movement in three dimensions and avoiding unnecessary “travel” motions when no material is being deposited, the method significantly reduces wasted movement. In testing, it cut non-printing travel by about 60%, resulting in faster print times without requiring new hardware and without sacrificing print quality.
The Opportunity
This technology can be used in commercial and industrial 3D printing environments where speed, efficiency, and throughput matter. It is especially valuable for print farms, manufacturers using proprietary printers, and applications involving large-scale or industrial materials such as plastic or even concrete. Because it works with existing printer hardware and adds minimal computational overhead, it can be integrated into current slicing software as a performance-enhancing upgrade. Companies that adopt this workflow could gain a competitive advantage through faster production cycles and improved operational efficiency.
