A method carried out by a printing device includes receiving a model of a three-dimensional component, receiving an output structure definition for the component, and segmenting the model of the component into a stack of slices. The method further includes, for each of the slices in the stack, outputting a respective printing layer comprising an arrangement of one or more slice instances of the slice according to the output structure definition.

A method of controlling the sub-pixels in LCD screens in 3D printers is described for increasing the resolution of a printed 3D object. A stereolithographic 3D printer comprises an LCD screen comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a plurality of sub-pixels; a 3D printing apparatus; a memory configured to store data representing a 3D object; and a processor. The resolution of the printed 3D objection is increased by dividing the 3D object represented by the data into a plurality of slices, mapping each slice of the 3D object to a pixel layout of the LCD screen, determining a proportion of each pixel that is contained within each slice of the 3D object, assigning illumination values to the sub-pixels of each pixel based on the determined proportion for the respective pixel for each slice, and controlling both the LCD screen in accordance with the assigned illumination values.

A method of controlling the sub-pixels in LCD screens in 3D printers is described for increasing the resolution of a printed 3D object. A stereolithographic 3D printer comprises an LCD screen comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a plurality of sub-pixels; a 3D printing apparatus; a memory configured to store data representing a 3D object; and a processor. The resolution of the printed 3D objection is increased by dividing the 3D object represented by the data into a plurality of slices, mapping each slice of the 3D object to a pixel layout of the LCD screen, determining a proportion of each pixel that is contained within each slice of the 3D object, assigning illumination values to the sub-pixels of each pixel based on the determined proportion for the respective pixel for each slice, and controlling both the LCD screen in accordance with the assigned illumination values.

One embodiment of the invention is a slicing engine that generates two or more slices of a virtual 3D model given a slice plane. The slicing engine then determines connection points on each of the slices that indicate how the 3D model is to be reconnected by the user when the 3D model is fabricated. The slicing engine also determines an optimized layout for the various slices of the 3D model on fabrication material for minimal use of the material. The user is then able to print the layout on the fabrication material via 3D printers, and connect the various printed slices according to the connection points to build a physical representation of the 3D model.