Algorithmic reasoning about a cutting tool assembly's space of feasible configurations can be effectively harnessed to construct a sequence of motions that guarantees a collision-free path for the tool assembly to remove each support structure in the sequence. A greedy algorithm models the motion of the cutting tool assembly through the free-spaces around the intermediate shapes of the part as the free-spaces iteratively reduce in size to the near-net shape to determine feasible points of contact for the cutting tool assembly. Each support beam is evaluated for a contact feature along the boundary of the near-net shape that constitutes a feasible point of contact. If a support beam has at least one feasible configuration at each point, the support beam is deemed accessible and a collection of tool assembly configurations that are guaranteed to be non-colliding but which can access all points of contact of each accessible support beam can be generated.

Algorithmic reasoning about a cutting tool assembly's space of feasible configurations can be effectively harnessed to construct a sequence of motions that guarantees a collision-free path for the tool assembly to remove each support structure in the sequence. A greedy algorithm models the motion of the cutting tool assembly through the free-spaces around the intermediate shapes of the part as the free-spaces iteratively reduce in size to the near-net shape to determine feasible points of contact for the cutting tool assembly. Each support beam is evaluated for a contact feature along the boundary of the near-net shape that constitutes a feasible point of contact. If a support beam has at least one feasible configuration at each point, the support beam is deemed accessible and a collection of tool assembly configurations that are guaranteed to be non-colliding but which can access all points of contact of each accessible support beam can be generated.

An information processing apparatus for providing data for modeling to an additive manufacturing apparatus that models a modeling object by repeatedly stacking layers of material is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a volume calculation unit configured to calculate a volume of the modeling target and a support-part-modeling-method determination unit configured to determine a modeling method of a support part that supports the modeling target according to the volume.

A support arrangement determining apparatus includes a reference processor that shifts and rotates a target object model, a candidate generating processor that generates inclination angles that are candidates for the orientation of the target object to be formed, a support calculating processor that calculates a number of supports to be attached and arranged on the target object, and an inclination angle determining processor that determines, among a plurality of inclination angles generated by the candidate generating processor, an inclination angle that enables the supports to support the load of the target object and that reduces or minimizes the number of the supports calculated by the support calculating processor, and with the inclination angle the target object is inclined from the predetermined reference orientation.

A device generating modeled object data representing a modeled object created while supported by pillar-shaped supports using a 3D printer includes a storage to store data of a body and data of the supports, a layout determiner to determine a layout of the body of the modeled object in a building area of the 3D printer, a display controller to display an image of the body with the determined layout, a support arrangement determiner to determine build positions to create the supports of the modeled object in the determined layout, and a modeled object data generator to generate the modeled object data representing the modeled object in a state where the modeled object is created, each build position to create the support being determined by the support arrangement determiner at a locally highest point parallel to a horizontal plane and protruding thereabove in the vertical direction, the locally highest point being located at a position lower than a top end of the support.