Gray-scale and Moiré using Thickness Control in Bridge Structure of Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printers

Abstract

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers can print a structure called a ”bridge,” which is a thin structure formed in mid-air with both ends fixed. In this study, we focus on the thickness of each bridge to further develop this structure for artistic printing. In conventional 3D printing, bridges have a uniform thickness from beginning to end. By controlling the amount of material and the printing speed, it is possible to change the thickness of the bridge within a range of about 0.5-0.2 mm in diameter. We can also create a gray-scale representation similar to hatching by densely printing the bridges with controlled thickness at intervals of approximately 1.0 mm. It is also confirmed that moir´e patterns can be created by printing multiple bridge layers while changing the angle of the printing direction. This paper examines the feasibility of controlling bridge thickness, explores the parameters that contribute to our technique, discusses calibration when materials or 3D printers change, and describes efforts to achieve stable printing. We also present a design system and examples, and discuss future work of our technique.