A new method for generating image projections in DLP-type 3D printer systems

This paper presents a novel method for generating image projections required for Digital Light Processing type 3D printer systems where the entire cross-section of the printed object is directly formed via projecting the image onto a vat of photopolymers. The cross-sections (i.e. slices), which are initially represented as bitmap images, are compressed via a novel lossless compression technique which makes good use of relative data encoding. The coherence between the consecutive slices (or images) are taken into account in this proposed paradigm. The method yields satisfactory performance in terms of data compaction achieved in the test cases considered. (c) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.